Word Study for H174 (אֲהָלִים)

ʼăhâlîym /a-haw-leem'/ Ask about this word

Rootor (feminine) אֲהָלוֹת (only used thus in the plural) · of foreign origin

Meaningaloe wood (i.e. sticks)

KJV usage(tree of lign-) aloes.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼăhâlîym — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼăhâlîym, represented by H174, refers to aloe wood or the (tree of lign-) aloes. It is a word of foreign origin that appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. It consistently denotes a valuable, fragrant wood used for perfume and recognized for its natural beauty when planted by God.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H174 is used in contexts of both luxury and natural splendor. It is listed as one of the precious fragrances, along with myrrh and cassia, that perfumes royal garments and brings gladness Psalms 45:8. In a prophetic blessing, the flourishing tribes of Israel are compared to "gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted" Numbers 24:6. It is also cataloged among the "chief spices" in the allegorical garden of the beloved Song of Solomon 4:14 and is used by the adulterous woman to perfume her bed as an act of seduction Proverbs 7:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and value of aloes:

H4753 môr (myrrh): This bitter, fragrant gum is mentioned alongside aloes in three of its four appearances, highlighting their common use as valuable perfumes (Psalms 45:8, Proverbs 7:17, Song of Solomon 4:14).
H1314 besem (fragrance; by implication, spicery): This word defines the category to which aloes belong, listed as one of the "chief spices" in the garden of the beloved Song of Solomon 4:14.
H1593 gannâh (a garden): In Balaam's prophecy, the beauty of aloes is associated with well-watered gardens planted by the LORD, symbolizing divine blessing and life Numbers 24:6.
H5130 nûwph (to perfume): This verb describes the action taken with aloes, as when the seductress in Proverbs says, "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon" Proverbs 7:17.

Theological Significance

The significance of H174 is found in its consistent association with value, beauty, and potent fragrance.

Symbol of Divine Blessing: The reference to aloes as trees "which the LORD hath planted" establishes them as an image of natural beauty and flourishing that comes directly from God's hand Numbers 24:6.
Element of Luxury and Royalty: As a costly perfume, aloes were used to scent the garments of royalty, associated with joy, ivory palaces, and splendor Psalms 45:8.
Component of Aromatic Gardens: In the poetry of Song of Solomon, aloes are a key feature in a metaphorical garden of exotic plants, representing the richness and desirability of the beloved Song of Solomon 4:14.

Summary

In summary, H174 ʼăhâlîym denotes the precious aloe wood, prized for its fragrance and beauty. Though rare in scripture, its occurrences consistently place it in the company of other valuable spices like myrrh and cinnamon. It functions both as a tangible luxury for perfuming garments and beds and as a powerful symbol of divinely ordained beauty and prosperity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אֲהָלוֹת
אֲהָלִים

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

Numbers

Psalms

Proverbs

Song of Solomon

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.