a primitive root; to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness; (take) labour (in).
Transliteration:ʻâmal
Pronunciation:aw-mal'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb H5998 (ʻâmal), a primitive root, conveys the sense of intense, arduous labor, often accompanied by a feeling of weariness, burden, or futility. Unlike more neutral terms for "work" or "doing," ʻâmal specifically emphasizes the *irksomeness* and *severity* of the effort. It describes work that is not merely physically demanding, but also mentally or emotionally taxing, frequently leading to little or no lasting satisfaction or profit. The inherent nuance of ʻâmal is that the labor is burdensome, often due to external circumstances like a curse or oppression, or internal states of distress and striving. It can denote painful exertion, whether physical toil in the field or the agonizing effort of conceiving mischief.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H5998 in the Hebrew Bible consistently underscore its core meaning of burdensome and often fruitless effort. One of its earliest and most poignant appearances is in the lament of Lamech in [[Genesis 5:29]], where he names his son Noah, stating, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed." Here, ʻâmal refers directly to the arduous agricultural labor that became humanity's lot after the Fall, a direct consequence of the divine curse upon the ground. This sets a foundational understanding of ʻâmal as labor born of hardship and divine judgment.
In the Psalms, ʻâmal often describes the generation of evil or the experience of affliction. [[Psalm 7:14]] states, "Behold, he travails with iniquity, and conceives mischief; and brings forth falsehood." Here, the verb is used metaphorically for the painful, laborious process of devising and executing wicked plans, highlighting the strenuous, yet ultimately destructive, effort involved. Similarly, [[Psalm 90:10]] describes the brevity of human life, noting that "the days of our years are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they be eighty years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow." In this context, ʻâmal (often translated "toil" or "trouble") encapsulates the weariness and suffering that characterize human existence in a fallen world.
The book of Ecclesiastes frequently employs ʻâmal to articulate its central theme of the vanity of human striving "under the sun." The Preacher repeatedly questions the value of such effort, as seen in [[Ecclesiastes 2:22]]: "For what has a man from all his labor and from the striving of his heart with which he labors under the sun?" And again in [[Ecclesiastes 3:9]]: "What profit has the worker from his toil?" The consistent use of ʻâmal in Ecclesiastes emphasizes the seemingly endless and often unrewarding nature of human striving for wealth, wisdom, or pleasure, all of which ultimately prove to be "vanity and a chasing after wind." [[Ecclesiastes 4:8]] further illustrates this futility, depicting a person toiling endlessly without an heir, asking, "for whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This highlights the self-defeating aspect of ʻâmal when pursued without a proper perspective on life's ultimate meaning.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word to H5998 (ʻâmal) is its nominal derivative, `{{H5999}}` (ʻāmāl), which means "toil, trouble, labor, sorrow, mischief." The noun form frequently appears alongside the verb, reinforcing the concept of arduous and burdensome work or the sorrow it produces. For instance, in Ecclesiastes, the noun `{{H5999}}` is ubiquitous in discussions of the futility of human endeavor.
Other Hebrew words relate to ʻâmal by describing different facets of work or effort. `{{H6001}}` (ʻāśāh), a very common verb, means "to do" or "to make" and is a more general term for action or creation, lacking the specific negative connotation of burden found in ʻâmal. `{{H3290}}` (yāgaʻ) means "to weary oneself" or "to toil," carrying a similar sense of exhaustion, but ʻâmal often implies a more profound, inherent difficulty or futility in the work itself.
Conceptually, ʻâmal is deeply intertwined with themes of the divine curse on the ground (`{{H776}}` - 'erets) in Genesis, the fallen human condition, and the pervasive sense of vanity (`{{H1892}}` - hebel) found in wisdom literature. It speaks to the human experience of struggle, affliction (`{{H6031}}` - ʻānâh), and the often unfulfilled striving that characterizes life in a broken world.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H5998 (ʻâmal) is profound, tracing its roots back to the foundational narratives of the Bible. It serves as a linguistic marker of the consequences of the Fall. After Adam's sin, God declared that the ground would be cursed, and humanity would eat from it "in toil" (ʻāmāl, the noun form of ʻâmal) all the days of their lives ([[Genesis 3:17]]). Thus, ʻâmal becomes a descriptor of the arduous, often frustrating, nature of human labor in a fallen world, a direct result of sin. It is not merely physical exertion but work imbued with a sense of hardship and resistance from creation itself.
In the wisdom literature, particularly Ecclesiastes, ʻâmal becomes a key term for exploring the existential dilemma of human striving apart from God. The Preacher's repeated assertion that all ʻāmāl "under the sun" is vanity highlights the theological truth that ultimate meaning and satisfaction cannot be found in human effort alone, no matter how intense or persistent. This underscores humanity's inherent limitations and dependence on divine blessing and purpose.
Furthermore, ʻâmal can describe the painful effort involved in sin itself, as seen in the Psalms where it denotes the "travail" of conceiving mischief. This reveals that sin is not effortless; it requires a burdensome, destructive kind of ʻâmal.
Ultimately, the pervasive presence of ʻâmal in the biblical narrative points to the need for redemption. The burdensome toil that characterizes human existence finds its antithesis in the "rest" offered by God. While the Old Testament acknowledges the reality of ʻâmal, the New Testament offers a profound theological resolution. Jesus' invitation in [[Matthew 11:28]], "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," directly addresses those burdened by ʻâmal and its accompanying sorrows, offering liberation from its oppressive grip through His redemptive work.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H5998 (ʻâmal) signifies labor that is severe, arduous, and inherently burdensome, often leading to weariness or a sense of futility. It distinguishes itself from general terms for work by emphasizing the irksome and taxing nature of the effort. Biblically, ʻâmal is deeply rooted in the consequences of the Fall, describing the cursed toil of human hands and the pervasive struggle of life in a fallen world, as seen in [[Genesis 5:29]] and [[Psalm 90:10]]. In wisdom literature, particularly Ecclesiastes, it underscores the vanity of human striving "under the sun" ([[Ecclesiastes 2:22]], [[Ecclesiastes 3:9]]), highlighting the often unrewarding nature of efforts apart from divine purpose. Its close relation to the noun `{{H5999}}` (ʻāmāl) further solidifies its meaning of trouble and sorrow. Theologically, ʻâmal serves as a stark reminder of the human condition post-Fall, emphasizing the need for divine intervention and the rest offered through Christ's redemptive work.
TRV