### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **taʼălâh**, represented by `{{H8381}}`, is a specific term for a **curse** or **imprecation**. It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its meaning highly contextual and focused. It is derived from a root word signifying a curse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H8381}}` is found within a prayer of lament in the book of Lamentations. The verse is an appeal for divine judgment, asking God to "Give them sorrow of heart, thy **curse** unto them" [[Lamentations 3:65]]. In this context, the curse is not merely a human utterance of ill will but a requested act of divine retribution to be placed upon the speaker's persecutors.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context illuminate the nature of this curse:
* `{{H5414}}` **nâthan** (to give): This powerful verb, used with a wide latitude of application, frames the curse as something bestowed or assigned by God. The prayer asks God to **give** this curse [[Lamentations 3:65]].
* `{{H4044}}` **mᵉginnâh** (sorrow): Defined as a covering in a bad sense, like blindness or obduracy, this word is paired directly with the curse. The curse manifests as a "sorrow of heart," indicating an internal state of anguish and spiritual hardness [[Lamentations 3:65]].
* `{{H3820}}` **lêb** (the heart): The target of the curse is the **heart**, the center of feelings, will, and intellect. This shows the curse is intended to be a deep, internal affliction, not just an external calamity [[Lamentations 3:65]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8381}}` is concentrated in its single appearance, which highlights specific themes:
* **Divine Judgment:** The word is used in a plea for God to act as the ultimate judge. The curse is explicitly called "thy curse," attributing its source and power to God alone [[Lamentations 3:65]].
* **Internal Affliction:** By linking the curse to "sorrow of heart," scripture presents this form of divine punishment as an internal state of being. It is a spiritual condition of obduracy or blindness inflicted upon the heart.
* **Imprecatory Prayer:** The use of `{{H8381}}` provides a biblical example of imprecation, where a plea is made for God to enact justice and retribution upon enemies, reflecting a deep cry for divine intervention in the face of suffering.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8381}}` is a rare and potent term for "curse." Its solitary instance in scripture defines it as a divine imprecation sought in prayer, intended to produce an internal state of sorrow and hardness of heart. It offers a glimpse into the biblical concept of divine retribution and the raw laments of God's people when appealing for justice.
TRV