Lexical Summary
alaz: To exult, rejoice, triumph
Original Word:עָלַז
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:`alaz
Pronunciation:ah-laz
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-laz')
KJV: be joyful, rejoice, triumph
NASB:exult, rejoice, become jubilant, exults, jubilant
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to jump for joy, i.e. exult
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be joyful, rejoice, triumph
A primitive root; to jump for joy, i.e. Exult -- be joyful, rejoice, triumph.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto exult
NASB Translationbecome jubilant (1), exult (11), exults (1), jubilant (1), rejoice (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ("" form of q. v.; compare Phoenicianproper name lm. ); —
Imperfect3masculine singularPsalm 96:12; 1singularJeremiah 15:17;Psalm 60:8;Psalm 108:8; 3masculine pluralPsalm 149:5, ,Jeremiah 51:39;Psalm 94:3, etc.;Imperative feminine singularZephaniah 3:14; masculine pluralPsalm 68:5;Infinitive constructIsaiah 23:12; —exult, triumphIsaiah 23:12;Jeremiah 15:17; of Israel's foes2 Samuel 1:20;Jeremiah 50:11("" ), of wickedPsalm 94:3;Jeremiah 11:15; of IsraelZephaniah 3:14 ( + ), ,Habakkuk 3:18inwill I exult ("" ),Psalm 149:5;Psalm 68:5; subjectPsalm 28:7,Proverbs 23:16; figurative of fieldPsalm 96:12 ("" ); ofPsalm 60:8 =Psalm 108:8.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb עָלַז portrays exuberant, almost unstoppable joy. Whether expressed by God, His people, His creation, or even His enemies, it is always intensive, outward, and infectious. Its contexts allow us to trace a theology of celebration that embraces covenant faithfulness and simultaneously warns against boastful triumph outside God’s will.
Semantic Range and Nuances
1. Victorious exultation—shouts of conquest or vindication.
2. Worshipful jubilation—rejoicing in God’s character and mighty acts.
3. Soul-deep delight—an inward gladness that spills into audible praise.
4. Carnal gloating—unholy mirth that provokes divine judgment.
Occurrences and Contexts
• Psalms (7 instances) use the verb to model righteous celebration and to depict the Lord’s own triumph (Psalm 60:6;Psalm 108:7).
• Prophets (7 instances) place עָלַז on the lips of both the faithful (Habakkuk 3:18) and the arrogant nations (Jeremiah 50:11).
• Historical narrative (2 Samuel 1:20) shows pagan rejoicing over Israel’s loss, sharpening the contrast between holy and unholy exultation.
• Wisdom literature (Proverbs 23:16) links a mentor’s deepest gladness to a disciple’s truthful speech.
Divine Exultation
Twice the verb describes God Himself:
“God has spoken from His sanctuary: ‘I will triumph!’” (Psalm 60:6; cf.Psalm 108:7). The Lord’s own rejoicing underscores His sovereign right to celebrate victories that secure His purposes. His joy is the fountainhead of all legitimate human joy.
Human Exultation in Worship
Psalm 28:7: “Therefore my heart exults, and I give thanks to Him with my song.”
Psalm 149:5: “Let the saints exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their beds.”
Habakkuk 3:18: “Yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”
These texts move from private gratitude to corporate praise, even to defiant joy amid national crisis. Ministry implication: worship leaders can call God’s people to rejoice not only when circumstances favor them but especially when faith must rise above fear.
Creation’s Exultation
Psalm 96:12: “Let the fields exult, and all that is in them; then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.” The verb broadens from human emotion to cosmic celebration, anticipating the redemption of all creation (Romans 8:19–21).
Warning Against Sinful Exultation
2 Samuel 1:20;Jeremiah 50:11;Isaiah 23:12;Psalm 94:3 expose gloating that opposes God:
“How long will the wicked exult?” (Psalm 94:3).
Because Babylon “exults” over Judah (Jeremiah 50:11), she is sentenced to ruin. The same verb that invites worship becomes evidence in God’s courtroom when employed by the proud.
Prophetic and Eschatological Hope
Zephaniah 3:14 gathers the remnant into full-throated praise: “Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!” The imperative points to a future day when judgment is past and the King is in the midst (Zephaniah 3:15-17). The New Testament echoes this horizon inPhilippians 4:4, where believers are commanded to “rejoice in the Lord always.”
Practical Ministry Applications
• Counseling: Encourage saints to verbalize God-centered joy as a counter to despair (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
• Worship planning: Build liturgies that allow for exuberance—clapping, singing, even dancing (Psalm 149:3-5).
• Preaching: Confront proud “exultation” in worldly success and redirect it to the cross, where all boasting is silenced except in Christ (Galatians 6:14).
Christological Perspective
The ultimate scene of rightful exultation is the resurrection, foreshadowed by every Old Testament use of עָלַז that celebrates deliverance.Luke 24:52 records the disciples returning to Jerusalem “with great joy,” validating that Christ’s victory unleashes the full measure of holy exultation anticipated in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Summary
עָלַז invites hearts, communities, and even landscapes to erupt in God-centered jubilation while warning that any rejoicing divorced from His covenant will be overturned. Its 16 appearances trace a consistent biblical theme: true triumph belongs to the Lord, and those who align with Him may rejoice without restraint now and forever.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶ֫עְלֹ֥זָה אֶעְל֑וֹזָה אֶעְלֹ֥זָה אעלוזה אעלזה וְעִלְז֥וּ וְעָלְזִי֙ וְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה וַיַּעֲלֹ֥ז וָֽאֶעְלֹ֑ז ואעלז ויעלז ועלזו ועלזי ותעלזנה יַעְלְז֣וּ יַעֲלֹ֔זוּ יַעֲלֹ֣ז יַעֲלֹֽזוּ׃ יעלז יעלזו יעלזו׃ לַעְל֑וֹז לעלוז תַּעֲלֹ֖זְנָה תַּעֲלֹֽזִי׃ תַֽעַלְז֔וּ תעלזו תעלזי׃ תעלזנה ’e‘·lō·w·zāh ’e‘·lō·zāh ’e‘lōwzāh ’e‘lōzāh eLozah la‘·lō·wz la‘lōwz laLoz ta‘ălōzənāh ta‘ălōzî ṯa‘alzū ta·‘ă·lō·zə·nāh ta·‘ă·lō·zî ṯa·‘al·zū taaLozenah taaLozi taalZu vaeLoz vaiyaaLoz vealZi veilZu vetaLozenah wā’e‘lōz wā·’e‘·lōz way·ya·‘ă·lōz wayya‘ălōz wə‘āləzî wə‘ilzū wə·‘ā·lə·zî wə·‘il·zū wə·ṯa‘·lō·zə·nāh wəṯa‘lōzənāh ya‘·lə·zū ya‘ălōz ya‘ălōzū ya‘ləzū ya·‘ă·lō·zū ya·‘ă·lōz yaaLoz yaaLozu yaleZu
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