### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **alalázō**, represented by `{{G214}}`, comes from the root word for a shout or "halloo." It is defined as to vociferate, which by implication can mean to wail, or figuratively, to clang or tinkle. This word appears **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, highlighting its specific and impactful usage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical text, `{{G214}}` is used in two distinct ways. First, it describes a literal, audible expression of grief. In the home of the ruler of the synagogue, observers saw "the tumult, and them that wept and **wailed** greatly" [[Mark 5:38]]. Second, it is used figuratively to describe a metallic, clanging sound. Paul uses it in his discourse on charity, stating that without it, he is like "sounding brass, or a **tinkling** cymbal" [[1 Corinthians 13:1]], signifying noise without substance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which `{{G214}}` is found:
* `{{G2799}}` **klaíō**: to sob, i.e. wail aloud. This word appears directly alongside **alalázō** in [[Mark 5:38]], where people "wept and wailed," emphasizing a scene of intense mourning.
* `{{G2278}}` **ēchéō**: to make a loud noise, i.e. reverberate. Used in [[1 Corinthians 13:1]], it describes the "sounding" brass that, along with the "tinkling" cymbal, creates a picture of loud, empty noise.
* `{{G2980}}` **laléō**: to talk, i.e. utter words. This is the verb for "speak" in [[1 Corinthians 13:1]], establishing that the "tinkling" sound is a metaphor for speech that lacks love.
* `{{G1100}}` **glōssa**: the tongue; by implication, a language. The context for the "tinkling" cymbal in [[1 Corinthians 13:1]] is speaking with the "tongues" of men and of angels without charity.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{G214}}` is revealed in its dual application, representing both profound human emotion and spiritual emptiness.
* **A Sound of Human Sorrow:** In [[Mark 5:38]], to "wail" is to participate in the raw and public expression of grief and loss. The word captures the sound of a community in mourning, a key element of the "tumult" at the scene.
* **A Symbol of Hollow Spirituality:** In [[1 Corinthians 13:1]], the word's meaning shifts entirely. To "tinkle" like a cymbal is to produce a sound that is hollow, metallic, and meaningless. It serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, when they are exercised without the essential ingredient of love.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G214}}` is a specific verb that carries two powerful and contrasting meanings. It can denote the literal, vocal sound of deep human grief, as seen in the wailing mourners [[Mark 5:38]]. It can also serve as a figure of speech for meaningless, empty noise, like a "tinkling" cymbal, which represents spiritual acts performed without love [[1 Corinthians 13:1]]. The word's meaning is therefore defined by its context, whether describing the depths of sorrow or the hollowness of lovelessness.
TRV