What does אָלַם mean in the Bible?
אָלַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied".
Hebrew · H481
אָלַם
To tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
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אָלַםH481
What does אָלַם mean in the Bible?
אָלַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied".
Full entry for אָלַם (H481) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H481?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and became speechless (1), and you will be silent (1), be mute (1), be silenced (1), I have become mute (1).
Where does אָלַם appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (3), Psalms (3), Daniel (1), Genesis (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand became speechless1×Daniel 10:15
and you will be silent1×Ezekiel 3:26
be mute1×Ezekiel 24:27
be silenced1×Psalms 31:18
I have become mute1×Psalms 39:9
I was speechless1×Psalms 39:2
is silent1×Isaiah 53:7
mute1×Ezekiel 33:22
were binding1×Genesis 37:7
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:7מְאַלְּמִ֤יםtowere bindingVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 31:18תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָהtobe silencedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine pluralPsalms 39:2נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּיtoI was speechlessVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 39:9נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּיtoI have become muteVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularIsaiah 53:7נֶאֱלָ֑מָהtois silentVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularEzekiel 3:26וְנֶֽאֱלַ֔מְתָּtoand you will be silentConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularEzekiel 24:27תֵֽאָלֵ֖םtobe muteVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularEzekiel 33:22נֶאֱלַ֖מְתִּיtomuteVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularDaniel 10:15וְנֶאֱלָֽמְתִּי׃toand became speechlessConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:7
Aligned rows9
Books represented5
Genesis1Psalms3Isaiah1Ezekiel3Daniel1
Source forms
וְנֶֽאֱלַ֔מְתָּ1xwə·ne·’ĕ·lam·tāEzekiel 3:26
וְנֶאֱלָֽמְתִּי׃1xwə·ne·’ĕ·lā·mə·tîDaniel 10:15
מְאַלְּמִ֤ים1xmə·’al·lə·mîmGenesis 37:7
נֶאֱלָ֑מָה1xne·’ĕ·lā·māhIsaiah 53:7
נֶאֱלַ֣מְתִּי1xne·’ĕ·lam·tîPsalms 39:2
נֶ֭אֱלַמְתִּי1xne·’ĕ·lam·tîPsalms 39:9
נֶאֱלַ֖מְתִּי1xne·’ĕ·lam·tîEzekiel 33:22
תֵֽאָלֵ֖ם1xṯê·’ā·lêmEzekiel 24:27
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular3xPsalms 39:2, Psalms 39:9, Ezekiel 33:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xDaniel 10:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 3:26
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 24:27
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural1xPsalms 31:18
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 53:7
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural1xGenesis 37:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
Source Gloss
to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied BDB: bind Usage: bind, be dumb, put to silence.
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 groups2Aligned forms7
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action6×
PerfectEzek 33:22 · Ps 39:3 · Ps 39:10 · Isa 53:74×
ImperfectEzek 24:27 · Ps 31:192×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Participle activeGen 37:71×
Word Origins
אָלַם is a primitive root - no further derivation.