Word Study for H5954 (עֲלַל) | Strong's Concordance

ʻălal /al-al'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to עָלַל (in the sense of thrusting oneself in),

Meaningto enter; causatively, to introduce

KJV usagebring in, come in, go in.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻălal — 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 Aramaic word ʻălal, represented by H5954, primarily means to enter. Used causatively, it means to introduce or bring in. It appears 13 times across 12 unique verses, playing a specific role in the narratives of the book of Daniel. Its meaning corresponds to the sense of thrusting oneself in.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5954 is frequently used to describe the act of entering into a specific, often significant, location. The word carries both a sense of personal movement and of being brought into a place by another's authority. For example, Daniel went in to his house to pray, a personal act of devotion Daniel 6:10. Conversely, the word is used when kings command others to be brought into their presence, as when Arioch brought in Daniel before the king Daniel 2:25, or when King Belshazzar cried aloud to bring in the astrologers and soothsayers Daniel 5:7. It also describes the queen, who came into the banquet house on her own accord Daniel 5:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the concept of movement and existence in the context where H5954 is found:

H1934 hâvâʼ: This verb for "to exist" or be is often used to describe a state or ongoing action. For instance, Daniel prayed as he did H1934 aforetime, an action that took place after he went H5954 into his house Daniel 6:10.
H236 ʼăzal: Meaning to depart or go, this word can be used in sequence with H5954. After the king went H236 to his palace, no instruments of music were brought H5954 before him, linking the king's departure with a subsequent action Daniel 6:18.
H858 ʼâthâh: This word for "to arrive" or bring is used for the act of bringing people or objects. It appears when the king's father brought H858 Daniel from Jewry, and later Daniel himself was brought in H5954 before the king Daniel 5:13.

Theological Significance

The narrative weight of H5954 is significant, particularly in royal court settings. It often functions as a trigger for pivotal events.

Access to Power: The act of being "brought in" before a king is a recurring motif. The magicians, astrologers, and wise men are repeatedly brought in to interpret dreams or writings, highlighting access to the seat of earthly authority (Daniel 4:7, Daniel 5:8, Daniel 5:15).
Initiating Revelation: The use of H5954 often precedes a moment of divine confrontation. When the king's wise men are brought in and fail, it sets the stage for Daniel to be brought in H5954 to reveal God's message Daniel 2:25.
Personal Faithfulness: The word also frames acts of private piety. Daniel went in H5954 to his house to pray, showing that "entering" is not only about answering a royal summons but also about initiating personal communion with God Daniel 6:10.

Summary

In summary, H5954 is a crucial action word in the Aramaic portions of Scripture. While its definition of "to enter" or "bring in" is straightforward, its application is key to the narrative flow. It marks the critical moments when characters are brought before kings, setting the stage for divine revelation that contrasts with human wisdom. Furthermore, its use in describing personal devotion illustrates that the act of entering a space can be as much about private faithfulness as it is about public duty.

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 verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

עַל
הַנְעֵל
הַנְעָלָה
הַעֵלְ
הֻעַלּוּ
הֻעַל

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

12 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.