Word Study for H365 (אַיֶּלֶת)

ʼayeleth /ah-yeh'-leth/ Ask about this word

Meaninga doe

KJV usagehind, Aijeleth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼayeleth — 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 ʼayeleth, represented by H365, is defined as a doe or hind. Its base definition is the same as אַיָּלָה and includes the proper name Aijeleth. This term appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, making each occurrence distinct in its context, ranging from a psalm title to a metaphor for a wife.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H365 is used in several specific ways. In the title of Psalms 22, it is part of the phrase "Aijeleth Shahar" Psalms 22:1. In Proverbs, it serves as a tender metaphor, comparing a beloved wife to a "loving hind" Proverbs 5:19, symbolizing grace and affection. In a prophetic context, Jeremiah uses the image of a literal hind in a field that has calved and then abandoned its young because of a drought, illustrating a state of extreme desperation Jeremiah 14:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Two related words provide additional context to the meaning of H365:

H3280 yaʻălâh (roe): This word for an ibex or roe appears directly alongside H365 in Proverbs 5:19, where a wife is described as a "loving hind and pleasant roe," creating a parallel image of a cherished and graceful spouse.
H5800 ʻâzab (to loosen... forsake... leave): This word thematically links two of the three occurrences of H365. The hind in the field forsook her young due to lack of grass Jeremiah 14:5, while the psalm titled "Aijeleth Shahar" begins with the cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Psalms 22:1.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H365 is seen through its symbolic applications.

Marital Love: The use of "hind" in Proverbs 5:19 establishes a biblical ideal for marital affection, portraying the wife as a source of grace and delight.
Covenantal Desperation: In Jeremiah, the hind forsaking her young—an unnatural act—serves as a powerful sign of judgment and the devastating consequences of turning from God Jeremiah 14:5.
Lament and Suffering: Its use in the title "Aijeleth Shahar" in Psalms 22 connects the term to one of scripture's most profound laments, expressing a deep sense of abandonment by God Psalms 22:1. The theme of being forsaken connects the suffering of nature with the suffering of the psalmist.

Summary

In summary, H365 is a highly specific term whose significance is amplified by its context. While it literally means a doe or hind, it functions as a rich symbol in Scripture. It represents the beauty of marital love, the desperation of a land under judgment, and is associated with the profound anguish of feeling forsaken by God, demonstrating how a simple nature-based word can convey deep theological truths.

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.

אַיֶּלֶת
אַיֶּלֶת

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 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms, Proverbs, and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

Psalms

Proverbs

Jeremiah

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.