English · KJV
H3208

יַלְדוּת

yaldûwth /yal-dooth'/ Ask about this word
Rootabstractly from יֶלֶד
Meaningboyhood (or girlhood)
KJV usagechildhood, youth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yaldûwth — 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 yaldûwth, represented by H3208, refers to the period of childhood or youth. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The term is derived abstractly and describes the stage of life encompassing boyhood or girlhood.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The term H3208 appears in contexts that explore the nature of one's early life. In Ecclesiastes, it is presented with a dual perspective. A young man is encouraged to rejoice H8055 in his youth H3208 and follow the ways of his heart, yet he is also warned that God will bring him into judgment H4941 for these things Ecclesiastes 11:9. Immediately following, childhood H3208 is described as vanity H1892, a transitory stage from which one should remove sorrow and evil Ecclesiastes 11:10. In Psalms, it is used poetically to describe a fresh, powerful vitality, stating, "thou hast the dew H2919 of thy youth H3208" in a context of holiness and power Psalms 110:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper insight into the concept of youth:

  • H7839 shachărûwth (youth): Derived from a word for dawning, this term refers to juvenescence and is used in parallel with H3208 to describe the period of childhood and youth as vanity Ecclesiastes 11:10.
  • H1892 hebel (vanity): This word signifies emptiness or something transitory and unsatisfactory. It is used to characterize childhood H3208 and youth, highlighting their fleeting nature Ecclesiastes 11:10.
  • H970 bâchûwr (young man): This term refers to a youth, often one who is selected or chosen. It is the subject addressed in Ecclesiastes, who is called to rejoice in his youth H3208 while remaining mindful of God's judgment Ecclesiastes 11:9.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of H3208 focus on the nature and purpose of early life.

  • The Fleeting Nature of Youth: Scripture emphasizes that childhood H3208 is ultimately vanity H1892, a transitory and unsatisfactory stage of life. This perspective encourages a focus on what is eternal rather than on the fleeting pleasures of youth Ecclesiastes 11:10.
  • Accountability in Youth: While youth is a time for joy, it is not free from responsibility. A young person is instructed to walk H1980 in the ways of their heart but also to know H3045 that they will be brought into judgment H4941 by God H430 for their actions Ecclesiastes 11:9.
  • Symbol of Divine Vitality: In a poetic and prophetic sense, youth H3208 is portrayed as a symbol of fresh, divine power. The "dew of thy youth" from the "womb of the morning" suggests a pure and powerful beginning, associated with the beauties H1926 of holiness H6944 Psalms 110:3.

Summary

In summary, H3208 is a specific term for childhood and youth that, despite its infrequent use, carries significant weight. It presents a balanced view of this life stage, acknowledging its potential for joy and vitality while simultaneously underscoring its transient nature and the reality of divine judgment. It ultimately frames youth not as an end in itself, but as a preparatory period that must be navigated with an awareness of eternal accountability.

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 3 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.

  • יַלְדֻתֶי
  • יַּלְדוּת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8055 שָׂמַח a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome; cheer up, be ( H4941 מִשְׁפָּט from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decre H1892 הֶבֶל or (rarely in the abs.) הֲבֵל; from הָבַל; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; o H2919 טַל from טָלַל; dew (as covering vegetation); dew. H7839 שַׁחֲרוּת from שָׁחַר; a dawning, i.e. (figuratively) juvenescence; youth. H970 בָּחוּר or בָּחֻר; participle passive of בָּחַר; properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective); (choice) young (man), chos

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Psalms
2
Ecclesiastes

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.