or עֹלָל; from עוּל; a suckling; babe, (young) child, infant, little one.
Transliteration:ʻôwlêl
Pronunciation:o-lale'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H5768 (ʻôwlêl), also appearing as עֹלָל (ʻōlāl), is derived from the verbal root עוּל (ʻûl), which signifies "to give suck" or "to suckle." Consequently, ʻôwlêl primarily refers to one who is being nursed or has recently been nursed, hence its core meaning as "suckling," "infant," or "babe." Its semantic range extends to "young child" or "little one," indicating a stage of early childhood characterized by extreme vulnerability, dependence, and often, innocence. The term emphasizes the tender age and inherent helplessness of the individual, often evoking a sense of pathos or the need for protection.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ʻôwlêl appears in several significant biblical passages, consistently highlighting themes of vulnerability, divine judgment, and God's surprising use of the weak:
* In [[1 Samuel 15:3]], ʻôwlêl is included in the divine command for complete destruction against the Amalekites ("both man and woman, infant and suckling"), emphasizing the totality and severity of God's judgment. Here, it is paired with yôneq (suckling, `{{H3243}}`), underscoring the extreme youth of those included.
* [[Job 3:16]] uses ʻôwlêl in Job's lament, where he wishes he had been "as infants who never saw light," referring to stillborn or aborted children. This usage highlights the fleeting nature of life and the absence of experience for those who die in infancy.
* [[Psalm 8:2]] ([[Psalm 8:3]] in some translations) presents a profound theological statement: "Out of the mouth of babes and infants, You have established strength because of Your adversaries." Here, ʻôwlêl (alongside ʻôlāl, a variant spelling) signifies the youngest and weakest, whose simple praise or very existence confounds the mighty, demonstrating God's power magnified through weakness.
* In the Book of Lamentations, ʻôwlêl frequently depicts the dire suffering during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem:
* [[Lamentations 2:11]] describes "infants and sucklings faint in the streets of the city," illustrating the widespread starvation and despair.
* [[Lamentations 2:20]] tragically asks, "Should women eat their offspring, the children of their tender care (ʻôlāl)?" highlighting the unimaginable horror and desperation.
* [[Lamentations 4:4]] portrays the extreme thirst: "The tongue of the infant cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst." These passages powerfully convey the depth of human suffering and the consequences of divine judgment.
* [[Joel 2:16]] includes ʻôwlêl in the call for national repentance: "Gather the children and the nursing infants." This demonstrates their inclusion in the covenant community and the corporate nature of supplication before God, emphasizing that all, even the youngest, are part of the community facing divine discipline and needing to participate in seeking mercy.
Across these contexts, ʻôwlêl consistently points to the most vulnerable members of society, serving as a poignant symbol of innocence, dependence, and the far-reaching impact of both divine judgment and divine grace.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root עוּל (ʻûl):** The verbal root from which ʻôwlêl derives, directly linking the noun to the act of nursing or suckling.
* **יָנַק (yānaq) / יוֹנֵק (yôneq) `{{H3243}}`:** "To suck," "suckling." Often appears in parallel or conjunction with ʻôwlêl (e.g., [[1 Samuel 15:3]], [[Lamentations 2:11]]), specifically referring to one who is actively nursing. While yôneq highlights the act of sucking, ʻôwlêl can encompass a slightly broader early childhood stage.
* **טַף (ṭap) `{{H2945}}`:** "Little ones," "children," "dependents." This is a more general, collective term for young children, often used in the context of families or communities. ʻôwlêl represents the youngest segment within the ṭap.
* **יֶלֶד (yeled) `{{H3206}}`:** "Child," "boy." A broader term for a child of any age up to adolescence. ʻôwlêl is a specific, very young type of yeled.
* **Concepts:** The term ʻôwlêl is inextricably linked to concepts of innocence, profound vulnerability, complete dependence, and the future generation. It also evokes themes of divine compassion, the severity of judgment, and God's ability to work through the seemingly weakest of instruments.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻôwlêl is multifaceted:
* **Divine Judgment and Compassion:** The inclusion of infants in descriptions of judgment (e.g., [[1 Samuel 15:3]], [[Lamentations 2:11]]) underscores the totality and devastating consequences of sin, particularly national sin. While seemingly harsh, it emphasizes that the effects of sin are pervasive and indiscriminate. Simultaneously, the very portrayal of their suffering implicitly evokes divine pathos, highlighting the grief of God over the plight of His creation, even when it is a just consequence of rebellion.
* **God's Strength in Weakness:** [[Psalm 8:2]] offers a profound theological insight: God establishes His strength and silences His adversaries through the "mouth of babes and infants." This principle reveals God's transcendence and His ability to work powerfully through the most unassuming and weak, subverting human expectations of power. It foreshadows New Testament themes of God choosing the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise" ([[1 Corinthians 1:27]]).
* **Inclusion in the Covenant Community:** The call for ʻôwlêl to be present in solemn assemblies for repentance ([[Joel 2:16]]) signifies their integral, though dependent, place within the covenant community. It demonstrates that God's covenant extends to all generations, and even the youngest are considered part of the corporate body that stands before Him, subject to His blessings and judgments, and included in the call to seek His face.
* **Symbol of Human Helplessness:** The recurring imagery of ʻôwlêl suffering from thirst and hunger in Lamentations vividly portrays the utter helplessness of humanity in the face of overwhelming calamity. This emphasizes the dire need for divine intervention and mercy, underscoring the fragility of life and the profound reliance on God's provision.
### Summary
H5768 (ʻôwlêl) fundamentally denotes a "suckling," "infant," or "young child," highlighting extreme youth, vulnerability, and dependence. Derived from the root עוּל (ʻûl), meaning "to suckle," it points to those still being nursed or just beyond that stage. Biblical occurrences consistently portray ʻôwlêl in contexts of either profound suffering and divine judgment (e.g., [[Lamentations 2:11]], [[Lamentations 4:4]]), underscoring the devastating consequences of sin, or as instruments of God's unexpected power and wisdom (e.g., [[Psalm 8:2]]). The inclusion of ʻôwlêl in calls for national repentance (e.g., [[Joel 2:16]]) further emphasizes their integral, albeit dependent, role within the covenant community. This term thus serves to underscore both the fragility of human life and the sovereign power of God, who can use the weakest to manifest His glory and who holds all, from the oldest to the youngest, accountable within His divine economy.
TRV