What does עוֹלֵל mean in the Bible?
עוֹלֵל is a Hebrew word meaning "a suckling".
Hebrew · H5768
עוֹלֵל
A suckling
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.
עוֹלֵל H5768
What does עוֹלֵל mean in the Bible?
עוֹלֵל is a Hebrew word meaning "a suckling".
Full entry for עוֹלֵל (H5768) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5768?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the children (3), children (2), because children (1), child (1), dash their little ones (1).
Where does עוֹלֵל appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 15:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Lamentations (5), Jeremiah (3), Psalms (3), 1 Samuel (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 the children 3× Jeremiah 6:11, Jeremiah 9:21, Joel 2:16
children 2× 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 22:19
because children 1× Lamentations 2:11
child 1× Jeremiah 44:7
dash their little ones 1× 2 Kings 8:12
Her children 1× Lamentations 1:5
Her infants 1× Nahum 3:10
like an infant 1× Job 3:16
Little children 1× Lamentations 4:4
of children 1× Psalms 8:2
of your children 1× Lamentations 2:19
the infants 1× Lamentations 2:20
their children 1× Micah 2:9
Their infants 1× Isaiah 13:16
their little ones 1× Hosea 13:16
to their children 1× Psalms 17:14
your infants 1× Psalms 137:9
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 15:3 מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ to children Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular 1 Samuel 22:19 מֵעוֹלֵ֖ל to children Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular 2 Kings 8:12 וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֣ם to dash their little ones Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Job 3:16 כְּ֝עֹלְלִ֗ים to like an infant Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural Psalms 8:2 עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים׀ to of children Noun - masculine plural Psalms 17:14 לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ to to their children Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Psalms 137:9 עֹ֝לָלַ֗יִךְ to your infants Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular Isaiah 13:16 וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֥ם to Their infants Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Jeremiah 6:11 עוֹלָל֙ to the children Noun - masculine singular Jeremiah 9:21 עוֹלָל֙ to the children Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 15:3
Aligned rows 20
Books represented 11
1 Samuel 2 2 Kings 1 Job 1 Psalms 3 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 3 Lamentations 5 Hosea 1 Joel 1 Micah 1 Nahum 1
Source forms
עוֹלָל֙ 2x ‘ō·w·lāl Jeremiah 6:11, Jeremiah 9:21
וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֣ם 1x wə·‘ō·lə·lê·hem 2 Kings 8:12
וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֥ם 1x wə·‘ō·lə·lê·hem Isaiah 13:16
כְּ֝עֹלְלִ֗ים 1x kə·‘ō·lə·lîm Job 3:16
לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ 1x lə·‘ō·wl·lê·hem Psalms 17:14
מֵעוֹלֵ֖ל 1x mê·‘ō·w·lêl 1 Samuel 22:19
מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ 1x mê·‘ō·lêl 1 Samuel 15:3
עוֹלֵ֥ל 1x ‘ō·w·lêl Jeremiah 44:7
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 4x Jeremiah 6:11, Jeremiah 9:21, Jeremiah 44:7, Lamentations 2:11
Noun - masculine plural 3x Psalms 8:2, Lamentations 4:4, Joel 2:16
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular 3x Lamentations 1:5, Micah 2:9, Nahum 3:10
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural 2x 2 Kings 8:12, Isaiah 13:16
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular 2x Psalms 137:9, Lamentations 2:19
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular 2x 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 22:19
Noun - masculine plural construct 1x Lamentations 2:20
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural 1x Hosea 13:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. a suckling
Source Gloss
a suckling
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
a suckling BDB: child Usage: babe, (young) child, infant, little one.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
עוֹלֵל is built from this root:
עוּל H5763
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