What does יָעַל (yāʿal) mean in the Bible?
יָעַל (yāʿal): Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Hebrew · H3276
יָעַל
Properly, to ascend ; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful , subjectively; benefited )
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 the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
יָעַל H3276
Pronunciation yāʿal
What does יָעַל (yāʿal) mean in the Bible?
יָעַל (yāʿal): Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Full entry for יָעַל (H3276) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3276?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include are worthless (2), avail (2), benefit (2), idols (2), at all (1).
Where does יָעַל (yāʿal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 12:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Jeremiah (7), Job (4), Proverbs (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 It are worthless 2× Proverbs 11:4, Isaiah 44:9
avail 2× Jeremiah 7:8, Jeremiah 12:13
benefit 2× Isaiah 30:5, Jeremiah 23:32
idols 2× Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 2:11
at all 1× Jeremiah 23:32
benefit at all 1× Jeremiah 16:19
benefit do I gain 1× Job 35:3
profit 1× Proverbs 10:2
profit [you] 1× 1 Samuel 12:21
profit to them 1× Isaiah 30:6
profit you 1× Isaiah 57:12
purpose 1× Job 15:3
succeed 1× Isaiah 47:12
they profit 1× Job 30:13
use 1× Habakkuk 2:18
useless 1× Isaiah 30:5
which profits him 1× Isaiah 44:10
would we gain 1× Job 21:15
you for your benefit 1× Isaiah 48:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 12:21 יוֹעִ֛ילוּ to profit [you] Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Job 15:3 יוֹעִ֥יל to purpose Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Job 21:15 נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל to would we gain Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural Job 30:13 יֹעִ֑ילוּ to they profit Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Job 35:3 אֹ֝עִ֗יל to benefit do I gain Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular Proverbs 10:2 י֭וֹעִילוּ to profit Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Proverbs 11:4 יוֹעִ֣יל to are worthless Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Isaiah 30:5 יוֹעִ֣ילוּ to useless Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Isaiah 30:5 לְהוֹעִ֔יל to benefit Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Isaiah 30:6 יוֹעִֽילוּ׃ to profit to them Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 12:21
Aligned rows 23
Books represented 6
1 Samuel 1 Job 4 Proverbs 2 Isaiah 8 Jeremiah 7 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
הוֹעִֽיל׃ 2x hō·w·‘îl Isaiah 44:10, Jeremiah 7:8
לְהוֹעִ֔יל 2x lə·hō·w·‘îl Isaiah 30:5, Isaiah 48:17
אֹ֝עִ֗יל 1x ’ō·‘îl Job 35:3
הוֹעִ֖יל 1x hō·w·‘îl Isaiah 47:12
הוֹעִ֣יל 1x hō·w·‘îl Habakkuk 2:18
וְהוֹעֵ֛יל 1x wə·hō·w·‘êl Jeremiah 23:32
יוֹעִ֥יל 1x yō·w·‘îl Job 15:3
יוֹעִ֣יל 1x yō·w·‘îl Proverbs 11:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 9x 1 Samuel 12:21, Job 30:13, Proverbs 10:2, Isaiah 30:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 3x Job 15:3, Proverbs 11:4, Jeremiah 2:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 2x Isaiah 30:5, Isaiah 48:17
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 2x Isaiah 47:12, Jeremiah 7:8
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Isaiah 44:10, Habakkuk 2:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute 1x Jeremiah 23:32
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural 1x Job 21:15
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular 1x Job 35:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Strong's H3276
Lexical occurrences 23 verses Word forms 1 form 19 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Isaiah 48:17-19 Source Gloss
properly, to ascend ; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful , subjectively; benefited )
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited) BDB: profit Usage: × at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).
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 groups 1 Aligned forms 19
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 19×
Imperfect 1Sam 12:21 · Isa 30:5 · Isa 30:6 · Isa 44:9 · Jer 2:8 · Jer 12:13 · Jer 23:32 · Job 30:13 · Prov 10:2 · Jer 2:11 · Job 15:3 · Prov 11:4 · Job 21:15 · Job 35:3 14×
Infinitive construct Isa 44:10 · Isa 47:12 · Jer 7:8 3×
Perfect Hab 2:18 1×
Participle active Jer 16:19 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Benefit or advantage that comes from following God's commandments and instruction
Showing 1 selected witness from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָעַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain