Lexical Summary
alilah: Deed, act, work, exploit
Original Word:עֲלִילָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:`aliylah
Pronunciation:ah-lee-LAH
Phonetic Spelling:(al-ee-law')
KJV: act(-ion), deed, doing, invention, occasion, work
NASB:deeds, actions, shameful, acts
Word Origin:[fromH5953 (עָלַל - To act severely) in the sense of effecting]
1. an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense)
2. (by implication) an opportunity
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
action, deed, doing, invention, occasion, work
Or malilah {al-ee-law'}; fromalal in the sense of effecting; an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); by implication, an opportunity -- act(-ion), deed, doing, invention, occasion, work.
see HEBREWalal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
alalDefinitionwantonness, a deed
NASB Translationactions (3), acts (1), deeds (17), shameful (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
Psalm 14:1;
Psalm 66:5; elsewhere plural
1 Samuel 2:3;
Psalm 141:4; construct
Deuteronomy 22:14,17; suffix
Psalm 77:13,
Zephaniah 3:7 +, etc.; —
wantonness,Deuteronomy 22:14,17wantonness of words, i.e. baseless charges (compare Di, especially Dr).
deed:
in General, of men1 Samuel 2:3.
of (only Psalms)Psalm 9:12 =Psalm 105:1 =Isaiah 12:4 =1 Chronicles 16:8;Psalm 77:13 ("" ),Psalm 78:11 ("" ),Psalm 103:7;Psalm 66:5he is terrible in deed toward, etc.
usuallypractices = evil deeds (especiallyEzekiel 8 t.):Ezekiel 14:22,23;Ezekiel 20:43;Ezekiel 24:14;Ezekiel 36:17,19 (all "" ), fullyEzekiel 20:44 ("" );Ezekiel 21:29;Zephaniah 3:11;Zephaniah 3:7.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of UsageThe noun עֲלִילָה designates concrete “doings,” “acts,” or “deeds.” Context determines whether those deeds are praiseworthy (usually the acts of God) or blameworthy (the sins of people). The term therefore functions as an ethical and theological gauge: deeds reveal character and invite either proclamation or judgment.
Distribution of Occurrences
The twenty-four occurrences stretch from the Torah (Deuteronomy), through the Historical Books (1 Samuel, 1 Chronicles), the Psalms, and into the Major and Minor Prophets (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zephaniah). This breadth embeds the concept of “deeds” in every phase of Israel’s story—covenant establishment, monarchy, worship, exile, and eschatological hope.
Legal and Social Setting (Deuteronomy 22:14, 17)
In the marriage-law context, עֲלִילָה describes an unfounded accusation: “he has slandered her and brought a bad name upon her, saying, ‘I found your daughter was not a virgin,’ when in fact he has made such a charge” (paraphrase ofDeuteronomy 22:17). Here the term covers false “proceedings” that threaten covenantal relationships and underscores that deeds—true or fabricated—carry legal weight.
Moral Evaluation before God (1 Samuel 2:3)
Hannah’s prophetic song warns the arrogant: “For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed”. עֲלִילָה places every human deed on divine scales, introducing a key biblical motif: the righteous Judge assesses conduct, not merely intentions or words.
Worship and Testimony: Declaring God’s Deeds (1 Chronicles 16:8;Psalm 9:11;Psalm 105:1;Isaiah 12:4)
David’s celebration when the ark arrives in Jerusalem commands, “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations” (1 Chronicles 16:8). The Psalter echoes this missional impulse: “Declare among the peoples what He has done” (Psalm 9:11). Isaiah anticipates the day when redeemed Israel will “proclaim that His name is exalted” by recounting His deeds (Isaiah 12:4). Thus עֲלִילָה becomes liturgical currency, converting history into praise and evangelism.
Meditation and Memory (Psalm 77:12;Psalm 78:11)
The psalmists not only publish God’s deeds but also rehearse them internally: “I will meditate on all Your works and consider Your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:12). Remembering divine actions counters despair and fuels covenant fidelity.
Contrasting Human Wickedness (Psalm 141:4;Ezekiel 36:17, 19)
While the righteous recount the LORD’s works, the wicked invent their own: “Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing to practice wicked deeds” (Psalm 141:4). Ezekiel indicts Israel for “their conduct and their deeds” that defiled the land (Ezekiel 36:17, 19). The same noun swings from praise to indictment, spotlighting ethical polarity.
Prophetic Judgment and Restoration (Ezekiel 14:22–23; 20:43–44;Zephaniah 3:7, 11)
Ezekiel predicts survivors whose “conduct and deeds” will vindicate God’s justice (14:22–23). Yet mercy tempers judgment: “You will remember your ways and all your deeds… and you will loathe yourselves” (20:43). Zephaniah envisions a purged remnant in whom presumptuous deeds are removed (3:11), proving that divine grace transforms doings, not merely status.
Theological Significance
1. Revelation: God makes Himself known through deeds—creation, exodus, conquest, providence, and ultimately redemption.
2. Accountability: Deeds disclose the heart; therefore righteousness is observable, and sin is prosecutable.
3. Memory and Hope: Israel’s liturgy ties past deeds to future expectation, inviting faith anchored in history.
4. Mission: Proclamation of God’s deeds moves from Israel to “the nations,” anticipating the global gospel mandate.
Practical Implications for Ministry
• Preaching: Anchor sermons in the mighty acts of God, tracing His deeds from Genesis to the cross and resurrection.
• Discipleship: Train believers to examine their conduct in light of divine scrutiny (1 Samuel 2:3) and sanctifying grace (Ezekiel 36:25–27).
• Worship Leadership: Design services that recount God’s historical interventions, fostering confidence and gratitude.
• Evangelism: Follow the biblical pattern—tell the account of what God has done; testimony remains a primary apologetic.
Christological and New Testament Echoes
The Septuagint often renders עֲלִילָה with ἔργα (“works”), a term central in the New Testament. Jesus appeals to His “works” as evidence of His divine mission (John 10:25). Peter preaches salvation history as “mighty deeds” (Acts 2:11), and Paul declares believers to be “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). The trajectory of עֲלִילָה culminates in the Messiah, whose atoning deed eclipses all others and becomes the message proclaimed “to the ends of the earth.”
Summary
עֲלִילָה unifies Scripture’s storyline by spotlighting actions—God’s redemptive acts and humanity’s moral choices. It calls worshipers to remember, proclaim, and imitate the righteous deeds of the LORD while forsaking wicked doings. Ultimately, the word directs attention to the finished work of Christ and the Spirit-enabled deeds of His people until He comes.
Forms and Transliterations
וְכַעֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם וְכַעֲלִילוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וְכַעֲלִילוֹתָ֖ם וּֽבַעֲלִ֖ילוֹתֶ֣יךָ וּבַעֲלִֽילוֹתָ֑ם ובעלילותיך ובעלילותם וכעלילותיך וכעלילותיכם וכעלילותם עֲ֝לִילָ֗ה עֲלִֽילֹתָ֑יו עֲלִֽילוֹתָ֑ם עֲלִֽילוֹתָֽיו׃ עֲלִיל֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם עֲלִילָ֗ה עֲלִילֹ֣ת עֲלִילֹ֨ת עֲלִילֹתַ֔יִךְ עֲלִילֹתָֽיו׃ עֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם עֲלִילֽוֹתָיו׃ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו עֲלִילוֹתָֽיו׃ עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃ עֲלִל֨וֹת ׀ עֲלִלֽוֹת׃ עלילה עלילותיו עלילותיו׃ עלילותיכם עלילותם עלילותם׃ עלילת עלילתיו עלילתיו׃ עלילתיך עללות עללות׃ ‘ă·lî·lāh ‘ă·lî·lō·ṯa·yiḵ ‘ă·lî·lō·ṯāw ‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯām ‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯāw ‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem ‘ă·li·lō·wṯ ‘ă·lî·lōṯ ‘ălîlāh ‘ălîlōṯ ‘ălîlōṯāw ‘ălîlōṯayiḵ ‘ălilōwṯ ‘ălîlōwṯām ‘ălîlōwṯāw ‘ălîlōwṯêḵem aliLah aliLot aliloTam aliloTav aliloTayich aliLoteiChem ū·ḇa·‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯām ū·ḇa·‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā ūḇa‘ălîlōwṯām ūḇa‘ălîlōwṯeḵā uvaaliloTam uvaaLiloTeicha vechaaliloTam vechaaliloTayich vechaaliloteiChem wə·ḵa·‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯa·yiḵ wə·ḵa·‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯām wə·ḵa·‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem wəḵa‘ălîlōwṯām wəḵa‘ălîlōwṯayiḵ wəḵa‘ălîlōwṯêḵem
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