### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâlaʻ**, represented by `{{H5966}}`, is a primitive root that means to **sip up** or **suck up**. Its use in the Bible is extremely specific, as it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**. This rarity ties its meaning exclusively to the single context in which it is found, providing a vivid and focused image.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical appearance of `{{H5966}}` is in the book of Job, during God's speech about the majesty and wildness of His creation. The word is used to describe the feeding habits of a great bird's offspring. In this context, the verse states, "Her young ones also **suck up** blood" [[Job 39:30]]. This stark depiction is part of a larger portrait of an untamed natural world that operates under God's sovereign hand, beyond human comprehension or control.
### Related Words & Concepts
The words used alongside `{{H5966}}` in its only verse provide a complete picture of the scene:
* `{{H667}}` **ʼephrôach** (the brood of a bird; young (one)): This identifies the subjects performing the action, specified as "her **young ones**" in the passage [[Job 39:30]].
* `{{H1818}}` **dâm** (blood): This specifies the substance being consumed. It is **blood** that the young birds are vividly described as sucking up [[Job 39:30]].
* `{{H2491}}` **châlâl** (pierced... slain (man)...): This word points to the source of the sustenance, completing the stark image by noting, "and where the **slain** are, there is she" [[Job 39:30]].
### Theological Significance
While not a major theological term, the use of `{{H5966}}` carries significance within its specific context in the book of Job.
* **Sovereignty over Nature:** The visceral image of young birds sucking up blood is part of God’s response to Job, demonstrating His authority over a natural world that is raw, untamed, and operates by its own fierce logic [[Job 39:30]].
* **Divine Provision:** The act, while grim, illustrates how God provides for all of His creatures according to their nature. It shows a cycle of life and death that, from a divine perspective, is part of a functioning and sustained creation.
* **The Reality of a Fallen World:** The scene powerfully depicts the consequences of a world where death is present. The feeding on the **blood** `{{H1818}}` of the **slain** `{{H2491}}` is an unsanitized portrait of survival, a theme central to Job's experience.
### Summary
In summary, **ʻâlaʻ** `{{H5966}}` is a highly specialized verb whose meaning is entirely defined by its single use in [[Job 39:30]]. It does not carry broad doctrinal weight but serves a crucial literary and rhetorical purpose. By painting a raw picture of nature, the word contributes to God's larger argument to Job, illustrating a world of fierce beauty and harsh realities that are all encompassed within the scope of divine sovereignty.
TRV