English · KJV
H8381

תַּאֲלָה

taʼălâh /tah-al-aw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom אָלָה
Meaningan imprecation
KJV usagecurse.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of taʼălâh — 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 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.

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 noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • תַּאֲלָתְ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5414 נָתַן a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, a H4044 מְגִנָּה from מָגַן; a covering (in a bad sense), i.e. blindness or obduracy; sorrow. See also מָגֵן. H3820 לֵב a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; like

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

1 verse, all in Lamentations — 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.