Lexical Summary
maalal: Deed, act, practice, work
Original Word:מַעֲלָל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:ma`alal
Pronunciation:mah-ah-LAHL
Phonetic Spelling:(mah-al-awl')
KJV: doing, endeavour, invention, work
NASB:deeds, actions, practices, dealings, doings, works
Word Origin:[fromH5953 (עָלַל - To act severely)]
1. an act (good or bad)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
doing, endeavor, invention, work
Fromalal; an act (good or bad) -- doing, endeavour, invention, work.
see HEBREWalal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
alalDefinitiona deed, practice
NASB Translationactions (2), dealings (1), deeds (34), doings (1), practices (2), works (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
41Nehemiah 9:35 ; — only plural
1 Samuel 25:3; construct
Psalm 77:12;
Psalm 78:1; suffix
Deuteronomy 28:20,
Hosea 4:9 +,
Isaiah 1:16 +,
Isaiah 3:10 +, etc.; —
usually (especiallyJeremiah 17 t.) badpractices of men,1 Samuel 25:3 he wasevil in hispractices;Judges 2:19 ("" ),Hosea 5:5;Hosea 7:2;Isaiah 3:8;Jeremiah 11:18;Psalm 106:29;Psalm 106:39 ("" );Nehemiah 9:35;the evil of your (their, etc.)practicesHosea 9:15;Isaiah 1:16;Jeremiah 4:4;Jeremiah 21:12 (suffix 3 masculine plural Kt, 2 masculine plural Qr), +;Zechariah 1:4 Qr (+ ; Kt ),Ezekiel 36:31 (+id.);Micah 3:4; , i.e. their consequences,Isaiah 3:10;Jeremiah 17:10;Jeremiah 21:14;Jeremiah 32:19 (+ ).
deeds ofPsalm 77:12, ofPsalm 78:7; compareMicah 2:7.
acts, in General, of youthProverbs 20:11 ("" ).
[],Zechariah 1:4 Kt, see foregoing
Topical Lexicon
מַעֲלָל
Semantic Range and Conceptual Significance
מַעֲלָל designates the outward “doings” that flow from the inward life. The term is morally charged: context decides whether the actions are praiseworthy (Proverbs 31:31) or reprehensible (Deuteronomy 28:20). Scripture therefore uses מַעֲלָל to expose the heart, shape covenant expectations, and announce reward or retribution.
Distribution in Scripture
Approximately forty-one occurrences are spread across:
• Torah (Deuteronomy 28:20)
• Former Prophets (1 Samuel 2:3)
• Wisdom Literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job)
• Major and Minor Prophets (notably Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Micah)
Themes in Wisdom Literature
1. Ethical Identity: “Even a child is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11). Character is discerned by consistent מַעֲלָל.
2. Contemplative Praise: The psalmists rehearse God’s mighty acts (Psalms 77:12; 103:7), modeling meditation on divine deeds as the antidote to fear and forgetfulness.
3. Righteous Reward: “Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the city gate” (Proverbs 31:31). Works can bring lasting honor when aligned with covenant wisdom.
Prophetic Use and Moral Accountability
The prophets employ מַעֲלָל to prosecute covenant breach:
•Jeremiah 17:10—“I, the LORD, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each man according to his way, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
•Jeremiah 21:14; 32:19 stress individualized recompense, confirming divine justice amid national judgment.
•Hosea 4:9; 12:2 connect Israel’s decline to accumulated deeds, exposing false religion divorced from ethical obedience.
Conversely,Isaiah 12:5 celebrates salvation history: “Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things; let this be known in all the earth.”
Historical Narratives
Hannah’s song warns the proud: “For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3). The monarchy that follows illustrates the principle—each king is assessed by his deeds (cf.1 Kings 16:19;2 Kings 21:11), anticipating final judgment.
Contrasts Between Wicked and Righteous Deeds
• Wicked:Deuteronomy 28:20;Psalm 28:4;Isaiah 59:18.
• Righteous:Psalm 106:2;Proverbs 31:31;Micah 7:15.
These contrasts reinforce the covenant polarity of blessing and curse and call God’s people to choose life-affirming obedience.
Theology of Works and Divine Judgment
מַעֲלָל never implies salvation by works; rather, deeds authenticate allegiance. Faith and obedience integrate: trust in the LORD produces righteous deeds, while unbelief issues in corrupt practices. The Old Testament thus anticipates the New Testament’s teaching that judgment is “according to deeds” (Romans 2:6), yet salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Christological and Eschatological Trajectory
The Messiah’s ministry is marked by “mighty deeds” (Acts 2:22) that fulfill the pattern of divine מַעֲלָל. His perfect obedience secures redemption, and His return will consummate Jeremiah’s promise of recompense (Revelation 22:12). Therefore מַעֲלָל points both backward to Yahweh’s historic acts and forward to the final audit of every life.
Ministry Application and Pastoral Exhortation
• Discipleship: Equip believers to examine conduct in light of Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5).
• Counseling: UseJeremiah 17:10 to expose heart issues driving behavior.
• Mission: Celebrate and proclaim God’s mighty deeds (Psalm 96:3).
• Social Ethics: Encourage deeds of justice that mirror God’s character (Micah 6:8).
Homiletical Outline for Teaching
1. The Weight of Action (1 Samuel 2:3)
2. The Mirror of Deeds (Proverbs 20:11)
3. The Record in Heaven (Jeremiah 17:10)
4. The Redemption of Works (Ephesians 2:10)
5. The Final Reckoning (Revelation 22:12)
Selected Key References
Deuteronomy 28:20;1 Samuel 2:3;Job 34:25;Psalm 28:4;Psalm 77:12;Psalm 106:2;Proverbs 20:11;Proverbs 24:12;Proverbs 24:29;Proverbs 31:31;Isaiah 12:5;Hosea 4:9;Hosea 12:2;Micah 7:15;Jeremiah 17:10;Jeremiah 21:14;Jeremiah 32:19;Ezekiel 20:43;Ezekiel 36:31.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ במעלליהם במעלליהם׃ במעלליו וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ וּמַ֣עַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶם֙ וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ וכמעללינו ומעלליהם ומעלליו ומעלליך ומעלליכם ומעלליכם׃ כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו כמעלליו מִמַּ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם מַ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ מַֽעַלְלֵ֫יהֶ֥ם מַֽעַלְלֵי־ מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֗ם מַעֲלָלִ֖ים מַעֲלָלָ֑יו מַעֲלָלָֽיו׃ מַעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ ממעלליהם מעללי־ מעלליהם מעלליהם׃ מעלליו מעלליו׃ מעלליך מעלליכם מעלליכם׃ מעללים bə·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw bə·ma·‘al·lê·hem bəma‘ălālāw bəma‘allêhem Bemaalalav bemaalleiHem kə·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw kəma‘ălālāw kemaalaLav ma‘ălālāw ma‘ălāleḵā ma‘ălālîm ma‘allê- ma‘allêhem ma‘allêḵem ma·‘ă·lā·lāw ma·‘ă·lā·le·ḵā ma·‘ă·lā·lîm ma·‘al·lê- ma·‘al·lê·hem ma·‘al·lê·ḵem maalaLav maalaLeicha maalaLim maallei maalleiChem maalLeiHem mim·ma·‘al·lê·hem miMaalleiHem mimma‘allêhem ū·ḵə·ma·‘ă·lā·lê·nū ū·ma·‘ă·lā·la·yiḵ ū·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw ū·ma·‘al·lê·hem ū·ma·‘al·lê·ḵem ucheMaalaLeinu ūḵəma‘ălālênū ūma‘ălālāw ūma‘ălālayiḵ ūma‘allêhem ūma‘allêḵem umaalaLav uMaalaLayich umaalleiChem umaalleiHem
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