What does יָלַל (yālal) mean in the Bible?
יָלַל (yālal): Vocal expression of extreme distress: howling grief or boisterous clamor, often collective lament
Hebrew · H3213
יָלַל
To howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
יָלַלH3213
Pronunciationyālal
What does יָלַל (yālal) mean in the Bible?
יָלַל (yālal): Vocal expression of extreme distress: howling grief or boisterous clamor, often collective lament
Full entry for יָלַל (H3213) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3213?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Wail (18), and wail (4), How they wail (1), I will wail (1), let them wail (1).
Where does יָלַל (yālal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Isaiah 13:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (11), Jeremiah (8), Joel (3), Ezekiel (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItWail18×Isaiah 13:6, Isaiah 14:31, Isaiah 15:3, Isaiah 16:7
and wail4×Isaiah 65:14, Jeremiah 4:8, Ezekiel 21:12, Micah 1:8
How they wail1×Jeremiah 48:39
I will wail1×Jeremiah 48:31
let them wail1×Isaiah 16:7
taunt1×Isaiah 52:5
they wail1×Hosea 7:14
wails1×Isaiah 15:2
will turn to wailing1×Amos 8:3
will wail1×Jeremiah 47:2
Show sample aligned rows
Isaiah 13:6הֵילִ֕ילוּtoWailVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralIsaiah 14:31הֵילִ֤ילִֽיtoWailVerb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singularIsaiah 15:2יְיֵלִ֔ילtowailsVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 15:3יְיֵלִ֖ילtowailVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 16:7יְיֵלִ֥ילtowailVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 16:7יְיֵלִ֑ילtolet them wailVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 23:1הֵילִ֣ילוּ׀toWailVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralIsaiah 23:6הֵילִ֖ילוּtowailVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralIsaiah 23:14הֵילִ֖ילוּtoWailVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralIsaiah 52:5יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙totauntVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowIsaiah 13:6
Aligned rows30
Books represented9
Isaiah11Jeremiah8Ezekiel2Hosea1Joel3Amos1Micah1Zephaniah1Zechariah2
Source forms
הֵילִ֖ילוּ4xhê·lî·lūIsaiah 23:6, Isaiah 23:14, Ezekiel 30:2, Zephaniah 1:11
הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙3xhê·lî·lūJoel 1:11, Joel 1:13, Zechariah 11:2
אֲיֵלִ֔יל1x’ă·yê·lîlJeremiah 48:31
הֵילִ֕ילוּ1xhê·lî·lūIsaiah 13:6
הֵילִ֨ילוּ1xhê·lî·lūJeremiah 25:34
הֵילִ֔ילוּ1xhê·lî·lūJeremiah 48:39
הֵילִ֣ילוּ1xhê·lî·lūJeremiah 51:8
הֵילִ֣ילוּ׀1xhê·lî·lūIsaiah 23:1
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural12xIsaiah 13:6, Isaiah 23:1, Isaiah 23:6, Isaiah 23:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4xIsaiah 15:2, Isaiah 15:3, Isaiah 16:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural2xJeremiah 4:8, Joel 1:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular2xIsaiah 14:31, Jeremiah 49:3
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 52:5, Hosea 7:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular1xMicah 1:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xAmos 8:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xJeremiah 47:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Vocal expression of extreme distress: howling grief or boisterous clamor, often collective lament
Strong'sH3213
Lexical occurrences31 versesWord forms1 form25 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 23:1-7Source Gloss
to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Vocal expression of extreme distress: howling grief or boisterous clamor, often collective lament
to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one) BDB: howl Usage: (make to) howl, be howling.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms25
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action25×
Sequential imperfectEzek 30:2 · Isa 13:6 · Isa 23:1 · Isa 23:6 · Isa 23:14 · Jer 25:34 · Jer 48:20 · Jer 51:8 · Joel 1:11 · Joel 1:13 · Zech 11:2 · Zeph 1:11 · Isa 14:31 · Jer 49:316×
ImperfectIsa 15:2 · Isa 15:3 · Isa 16:7 · Hos 7:14 · Isa 52:5 · Isa 65:14 · Jer 48:318×
PerfectJer 48:391×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To cry out in lament.
Showing 1 selected witness from 31 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָלַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The repeated call to wail underscores the magnitude of Tyre’s loss.Isaiah 23:1-7
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.