What does עָלַם mean in the Bible?
e. conceal (literally or figuratively)".
Hebrew · H5956
עָלַם
To veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)
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עָלַם H5956
What does עָלַם mean in the Bible?
עָלַם is a Hebrew word meaning "to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)".
Full entry for עָלַם (H5956) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5956?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include even if he is unaware (3), ignore it (3), ignore (2), . . . (1), and closed (1).
Where does עָלַם appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 4:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (6), Psalms (4), Deuteronomy (3), Job (3).
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 even if he is unaware 3× Leviticus 5:2, Leviticus 5:3, Leviticus 5:4
ignore it 3× Deuteronomy 22:1, Deuteronomy 22:3, Deuteronomy 22:4
ignore 2× Psalms 55:1, Lamentations 3:56
. . . 1× Leviticus 20:4
and closed 1× 1 Samuel 12:3
and it is concealed 1× Numbers 5:13
but he who hides 1× Proverbs 28:27
escapes 1× Leviticus 4:13
ever hide 1× Leviticus 20:4
every hidden 1× Ecclesiastes 12:14
has hidden 1× 2 Kings 4:27
hypocrites 1× Psalms 26:4
I will hide 1× Isaiah 1:15
into hiding 1× Nahum 3:11
It is hidden 1× Job 28:21
of melting 1× Job 6:16
our secret [sins] 1× Psalms 90:8
They disregard 1× Ezekiel 22:26
to turn away 1× Isaiah 58:7
too difficult 1× 1 Kings 10:3
was too difficult 1× 2 Chronicles 9:2
who conceals 1× Job 42:3
Why do You hide 1× Psalms 10:1
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 4:13 וְנֶעְלַ֣ם to escapes Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 5:2 וְנֶעְלַ֣ם to even if he is unaware Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 5:3 וְנֶעְלַ֣ם to even if he is unaware Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 5:4 וְנֶעְלַ֣ם to even if he is unaware Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 20:4 הַעְלֵ֣ם to ever hide Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Leviticus 20:4 יַעְלִימֽוּ֩ to . . . Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Numbers 5:13 וְנֶעְלַם֙ to and it is concealed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 22:1 וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ to ignore it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Deuteronomy 22:3 לְהִתְעַלֵּֽם׃ס to ignore it Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct Deuteronomy 22:4 וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ to ignore it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Leviticus 4:13
Aligned rows 28
Books represented 15
Leviticus 6 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 3 1 Samuel 1 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 1 Job 3 Psalms 4 Proverbs 1 Ecclesiastes 1 Isaiah 2 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 1 Nahum 1
Source forms
וְנֶעְלַ֣ם 4x wə·ne‘·lam Leviticus 4:13, Leviticus 5:2, Leviticus 5:3, Leviticus 5:4
וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ 2x wə·hiṯ·‘al·lam·tā Deuteronomy 22:1, Deuteronomy 22:4
אַעְלִ֤ים 1x ’a‘·lîm Isaiah 1:15
הֶעְלִ֣ים 1x he‘·lîm 2 Kings 4:27
הֶעְלִ֣ימוּ 1x he‘·lî·mū Ezekiel 22:26
הַעְלֵ֣ם 1x ha‘·lêm Leviticus 20:4
וְאַעְלִ֥ים 1x wə·’a‘·lîm 1 Samuel 12:3
וּמַעְלִ֥ים 1x ū·ma‘·lîm Proverbs 28:27
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 5x Leviticus 4:13, Leviticus 5:2, Leviticus 5:3, Leviticus 5:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular 2x Deuteronomy 22:1, Deuteronomy 22:4
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Psalms 10:1, Lamentations 3:56
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Psalms 55:1, Isaiah 58:7
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2x 1 Kings 10:3, Ecclesiastes 12:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular 1x 1 Samuel 12:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 28:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular 1x Job 28:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)
Source Gloss
to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively) BDB: conceal Usage: × any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).
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 3 Aligned forms 16
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 5×
Participle active 1Kgs 10:3 · Eccl 12:14 · Ps 26:4 3×
Perfect 2Chr 9:2 1×
Participle passive Nah 3:11 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 8×
Imperfect Isa 1:15 · Lev 20:4 · Ps 10:1 3×
Perfect 2Kgs 4:27 · Ezek 22:26 2×
Participle active Job 42:3 1×
Jussive Lam 3:56 1×
Infinitive absolute Lev 20:4 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 3×
Imperfect Isa 58:7 · Job 6:16 2×
Jussive Ps 55:2 1×
Word Origins
עָלַם 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