Lexical Summary
al: on, upon, over, against, concerning, because of
Original Word:עַל
Part of Speech:Preposition
Transliteration:`al
Pronunciation:ahl
Phonetic Spelling:(al)
NASB:over, concerning, against, about, around, account, among
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH5921 (עַל - over)]
1. about, against, concerning, for, (there-)fore, from, in, X more, of, (there-, up-)on, (in-)to, + why with
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
about, upon, into, why with
(Aramaic) corresponding toal -- about, against, concerning, for, (there-)fore, from, in, X more, of, (there-, up-)on, (in-)to, + why with.
see HEBREWal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
alDefinitionupon, over, above
NASB Translationabout (3), account (1), against (6), among (1), around (3), concerning (7), disregarded* (1), more (1), over (15), reason* (1), than* (1), therefore* (2), toward (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Biblical Hebrew and General Aramaic
id.); — suffix 1 singular ; 2 masculine singular Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, Cooke
No. 77, A 5, 6, B 8, S-C
Pap. A 3, B 5 +), , Qr ( , Dalm
§ 47, 2)
Daniel 3:12 6t. Daniel;
Ezra 7:18; 3masculine singular (so Nabataean, Palmyrene; Egyptian Aramaic S-C
A 6 +)
Daniel 3:28 +,
Ezra 6:11; 3feminine singular Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, S-C
D 24), Qr (so )
Daniel 4:14;
Daniel 5:21; 1plural
Ezra 4:12,
Ezra 4:18;
Ezra 5:17 Baer (Gi ); 3 masculine plural (so Nabataean, CIS
ii. 226; Egyptian Aramaic, S-C
Pap. F 5, 8+)
Ezra 7:24,
Ezra 5:1,3; —
upon,Daniel 2:10,28,46;Daniel 5:5,7;Daniel 6:11 + often,Daniel 4:26 (2 Samuel 11:2); to be established2 Samuel 4:33 (compare 2 Chronicles 1:1; Biblical Hebrew II. 1) to lay an impostupon,Ezra 7:24; to truston,Daniel 3:28; after a verb of motion, to comeupon,Daniel 4:21;Daniel 4:25; of times, to passover,Daniel 4:13;Daniel 4:20;Daniel 4:22;Daniel 4:29;Ezra 5:1 i.e. (named)over them.
idiomatic (as in Biblical Hebrew; see
) of the person who is thesubject of an emotion or experience,Daniel 5:9 were changedupon him,Daniel 7:28;Daniel 6:19 (compareDaniel 2:1).
on accusative of (Biblical Hebrew b),Daniel 3:16 . So inon this accusativeEzra 4:15,22;Ezra 5:17, wherefore ?Daniel 2:15; and (see ).
on behalf of (ib.
c),Ezra 6:17.
regarding, concerning (ib.
g),Daniel 2:18;Daniel 5:14,29;Daniel 6:6;Daniel 6:13;Ezra 7:14 #NAME?
over, with verbs of ruling, appointing, etc.,Daniel 2:48,49;Daniel 3:12;Daniel 4:14 +,Ezra 4:20;Ezra 6:18.
in a comparative sense,above, beyond,Daniel 3:19;Daniel 6:4.
direction:
to, of a person, after a verb of motion (compare Biblical Hebrew
a a),Daniel 2:24;Daniel 4:31;Daniel 4:33;Daniel 6:7;Daniel 6:16;Ezra 4:12,23 + often; after tosend (a letter, etc.)Ezra 4:11,17,18;Ezra 5:6 +,writeEzra 4:7,prophesyEzra 5:1; of the direction of the mind (ib.
c),Daniel 3:12;Daniel 6:14 (twice in verse);Daniel 6:15; compareEzra 5:5 (compareJeremiah 40:4 andPsalm 34:16).
against,Daniel 3:19,29;Daniel 5:23;Daniel 6:5;Daniel 6:6 +;Ezra 4:8;Ezra 7:23.
, (to be) good or acceptableto (as in Syriac andlate Hebrew: see Biblical Hebrew ),Ezra 5:17 ,Ezra 7:18 (twice in verse);Daniel 4:24 (),Daniel 6:15 (),Daniel 6:24 (). — compare the synopsis of meanings in Lzb340.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe Aramaic preposition עַל (ʿal, Strong’s H5922) appears ninety-four times in the Old Testament, concentrated in Ezra, Daniel, and the single Aramaic verse of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 10:11). It functions much like its Hebrew cognate (Strong’s H5921), expressing position (“upon,” “over,” “against”), relation (“concerning,” “because of”), and authority (“in charge of,” “at the command of”). Because the word is confined to the exilic and post-exilic books, its occurrences shed light on Israel’s experience in foreign courts, the sovereignty of God over the nations, and the faithful witness of His people under Gentile rule.
Spatial and Physical Relationships
1. Literal elevation or placement
•Ezra 6:11 – The decree orders that anyone who alters the temple edict be impaled “on” (ʿal) a timber from his own house, a striking picture of justice enacted publicly and visibly.
•Daniel 7:3 – “Four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another,” rising “upon” the surface to dominate the scene of Daniel’s vision.
2. Superposition implying dominance
•Daniel 6:17 – A stone is placed “over” (ʿal) the mouth of the lions’ den, graphically portraying the king’s supposed control over Daniel’s fate, while setting the stage for God to demonstrate a higher sovereignty.
•Ezra 5:12 – Nebuchadnezzar carries the temple vessels “to” (ʿal) Babylon; the move of holy items “over” to a pagan center highlights the humiliation of exile.
Judicial and Administrative Contexts
1. Official decrees and charges
•Ezra 4:9–10 lists Persian officials “appointed over” (ʿal) the peoples west of the Euphrates, illustrating the bureaucratic layers of empire.
•Daniel 3:12 – Certain Jews are accused of refusing to fall “down” before the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar set “up” (ʿal) the plain of Dura, revealing the collision between imperial law and covenant fidelity.
2. Stewardship and accountability
•Daniel 2:48 – Nebuchadnezzar sets Daniel “over” (ʿal) the whole province of Babylon; the word marks the transfer of significant civil authority to a man loyal first to God.
•Daniel 6:2 – Three administrators are placed “over” the kingdom so that the satraps will give account, “so that the king would suffer no loss.” Good stewardship is presented as a divine value even within pagan structures.
Covenant Faithfulness under Foreign Rule
The Aramaic ʿal often frames actions “because of” covenant realities:
•Ezra 9:13 – “After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt… You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this.” The phrase highlights divine mercy “upon” undeserving people.
•Daniel 9:16 – Daniel pleads, “O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, let Your anger and wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of (ʿal) our sins… Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of scorn.” The preposition links guilt to consequence, yet also undergirds Daniel’s hope in covenant mercy.
Sacrificial and Liturgical Features
Although temple worship is largely narrated in Hebrew, the Aramaic passages keep sacrificial vocabulary alive:
•Ezra 6:9 – “Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, or lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail,” literally “upon” (ʿal) their request. The language preserves the ongoing priority of worship even under Persian patronage.
•Ezra 6:17 – The dedication of the rebuilt temple includes sacrifices “for” (ʿal) all Israel, implicitly affirming substitutionary atonement and national recommitment.
Prophetic and Apocalyptic Layers
ʿAl frames the ascent and dominion of kingdoms in Daniel’s visions:
•Daniel 7:17 – “These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.” Each beast stands “upon” the stage of history only temporarily, underscoring that their dominion is granted and limited by God.
•Daniel 8:5 – The male goat comes from the west “across” (ʿal) the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground, symbolizing the rapid conquests of Greece. The preposition stresses the sweeping reach of human empire before divine judgment intervenes (Daniel 8:25).
Personal Piety and Witness
1. Fidelity in daily practice
•Daniel 6:10 – When Daniel learns that the document prohibiting prayer “against” (ʿal) anyone except the king is signed, he continues praying toward Jerusalem “as he had done before.” The preposition marks the direct opposition of secular decree to spiritual discipline.
2. Intercession
•Daniel 9 repeatedly employs ʿal in confession “concerning” the people’s sins, modeling humble identification with corporate guilt.
Christological and Redemptive Foreshadowing
The Aramaic narratives set up typological pointers to Messiah:
• The stone laid “upon” (ʿal) the lions’ den (Daniel 6:17) and its subsequent removal prefigure resurrection imagery—an innocent man emerges alive, vindicated by God.
• The fourth figure “like a son of the gods” walking “among” (ʿal) the flames with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:25) anticipates the incarnate Presence who is with His people in tribulation.
• Daniel’s vision of “one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven” who is given dominion “over” (ʿal) all peoples, nations, and languages (Daniel 7:13–14) culminates the semantic field of rulership: ultimate authority rests on Christ.
Pastoral and Ministry Application
1. God’s people may thrive “under” foreign systems while remaining “over” them in moral integrity. The repeated placement of faithful Jews “over” provinces (Daniel 2:48; 3:30; 6:2) encourages believers to seek excellence and witness in secular vocations.
2. Every human authority stands “under” divine oversight. The word ʿal, when used of earthly rulers, subtly reminds readers of a higher throne “over” them all (Daniel 4:17, 26, 32).
3. Confession “concerning” sin must precede renewal (Ezra 9;Daniel 9). Corporate prayer that owns guilt invites covenant restoration.
4. Visible obedience “against” hostile edicts (Daniel 3; 6) testifies powerfully to the nations and preserves the purity of worship.
Summary
Strong’s H5922 ʿal weaves through the Aramaic sections of Scripture to articulate placement, authority, and cause. Its occurrences chronicle Israel’s life in exile, the shifting empires of Daniel’s visions, and the steadfastness of saints who live under—and sometimes over—pagan power structures. Ultimately, the preposition directs attention to the Lord who is “Most High over all the earth” (echoed in HebrewPsalm 97:9) and to the Son of Man who is granted everlasting dominion. Each use of ʿal in Ezra, Daniel, and Jeremiah invites readers to rest upon that sovereignty, to stand against ungodliness, and to live as faithful witnesses until every kingdom is placed beneath His feet.
Forms and Transliterations
וְעַ֣ל וְעַ֧ל וְעַל־ ועל ועל־ עֲל֑וֹהִי עֲל֔וֹהִי עֲל֖וֹהִי עֲלֵיה֜וֹן עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃ עֲלֵיהֽוֹן׃ עֲלֶ֑ינָא עֲלֶ֥ינָא עֲלֶֽינָא׃ עֲלַ֔י עֲלַ֗י עֲלַ֣י עֲלֹ֑הִי עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ עַ֖ל עַ֛ל עַ֣ל עַ֤ל עַ֨ל־ עַֽל־ עַל־ על על־ עלהי עלוהי עלוהי׃ עלי עליהון עליהון׃ עליהם׃ עלינא עלינא׃ ‘ă·lay ‘ă·lê·hō·wn ‘ă·lê·hōm ‘ă·le·nā ‘ă·lō·hî ‘ă·lō·w·hî ‘al ‘al- ‘ălay ‘ălêhōm ‘ălêhōwn ‘ălenā ‘ălōhî ‘ălōwhî al aLai aleiHom aleiHon aLeina aLohi veal wə‘al wə‘al- wə·‘al wə·‘al-
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