480. alelay
Strong's Lexicon
alelay: Woe, Alas

Original Word: אַלְלַי
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: alelay
Pronunciation: al-lay
Phonetic Spelling: (al-le-lah'ee)
Definition: Woe, Alas
Meaning: alas!

Word Origin: Derived from the root אָלַל (alal), which conveys a sense of wailing or lamentation.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint and the New Testament is οὐαί (ouai), which also means "woe" or "alas." This term is used in the New Testament, notably in the Gospels, where Jesus pronounces woes upon unrepentant cities and hypocritical religious leaders (e.g., Matthew 23:13-29).

Usage: The Hebrew word "alelay" is an interjection used to express deep sorrow, distress, or lamentation. It is often found in contexts of mourning or when pronouncing judgment or calamity. The term conveys a profound emotional response to tragedy or divine judgment.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, expressions of lament were a significant part of communal and individual life, especially in response to national disasters, personal loss, or divine judgment. The use of interjections like "alelay" reflects the deep emotional and spiritual engagement of the Hebrew people with their circumstances and their God. Lamentations were often accompanied by physical expressions of grief, such as tearing clothes, wearing sackcloth, and ashes.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. interj.
Definition
alas! woe!
NASB Translation
woe (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אַלְלַי interjection (probably onomatopoetic: compare , אָלָה, to wail, woe! Di718) alas! woe! followed by לִי to me Micah 7:1; Job 10:15.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
woe

By reduplication from 'alah; alas! -- woe.

see HEBREW 'alah

Forms and Transliterations
אַ֣לְלַי אַלְלַ֬י אללי ’al·lay ’allay alLai
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Job 10:15
HEB: אִם־ רָשַׁ֡עְתִּי אַלְלַ֬י לִ֗י וְ֭צָדַקְתִּי
NAS: I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous,
KJV: If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous,
INT: If I am wicked woe I am righteous not

Micah 7:1
HEB: אַ֣לְלַי לִ֗י כִּ֤י
NAS: Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit
KJV: Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered
INT: Woe For I am

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 480
2 Occurrences


’al·lay — 2 Occ.
















479
Top of Page
Top of Page