---
title: יָחַל — wait · The Tanakh dictionary
description: יָחַל (3176), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 42 times: wait. BDB 1906: vb.Niph. Pi. Pi. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917.
---

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# יָחַל

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«יָחַל» in the Tanakh dictionary: **wait** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers.

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**Used:** 42 times · **Key:** 3176 · **BDB:** יָחַל

### Glosses

I.will.wait (8); I.wait (5); wait (5)

### Meaning (OSHB)

wait [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3176/#m1)

### Meaning (BDB 1906)

vb.Niph. Pi. Pi. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3176/#m2)

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**The whole BDB entry:** vb.Niph. wait; Pi. await (cf. NH יִחוּלexpectation);— Pf. 3 fs. נוֹחֲלָה Ez 19:5 (yet v. infr.); Impf. וַיִּיָּ֫חֶל Gn 8:12 + 1 S 13:18 Kt (v. Dr; Qr Hiph. וַיּוֹחֶל);—wait: Gn 8:12 and he waited yet seven days; so 1 S 13:8 Kt; of Isr. under fig. of lioness, וַתֵּרֶא כִּי נוֹחֲלָה אָֽבְדָה תִּקְוָתָהּ Ez 19:5 when she saw that her hope tarried, was lost (but dub.; Sm comp. Aramaic ܐܘܚܠ be weak, whence perhaps sink down; Hi (perhaps after 𝔊) כִּי נִדַּח לָהּ that he was thrust away from her; Co plausibly נוֹאֲלָה that she had acted foolishly). Pf. 2 ms. sf. יִחַלִתָּ֑נִי ψ 119:49; 1 s. יִחָ֑לְתִּי v 43 + 4 times ψ 119; 3 mpl. יִחֲלוּ Jb 29:23 Ez 13:6; יִחֵ֑לּוּ Jb 29:21; 1 pl. יִחַלְנוּ ψ 33:22; Impf. יְיַחֵל Mi 5:6; אֲיַחֵל Jb 6:11; 13:15 + 2 times; אֲיַחֲלָה 30:26; יְיַחֵ֑לוּ Is 42:4; יְיַחֵלֽוּן 51:5; Imv. יַחֵל ψ 130:7; 131:3; Pt. מְיחֵל 69:4; מְיַחֲלִים 31:25 + 2 times;— wait, tarry for, sq. לְ Mi 5:6 (of rain, ‖ יְקֵוֶּה); so 1:12 according to We, who reads יִחֲלָה (Pf.) for חָלָה; abs. wait Jb 6:11; 14:14. wait for = hope for, sq. לִ Is 42:4 Jb 29:21, 23; 30:26 (‖ קִוֵּיתִי), ψ 31:25; 33:18, 22; 69:4; 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147; sq. ל inf. ויח׳ לְקַיֵּם דָּבָר Ez 13:6; sq. אֶל Is 51:5 ψ 130:7; 131:3; abs. hope, ψ 71:14. caus. make to hope ψ 147:11 (sf. pers.), Pf. הוֹחַ֫לְתִּי Jb 32:11, etc.; וְהוֹחַ֫לְתִּי (consec., v. Hi De2 Dr§§ 106, 119 γ) Jb 32:16; Impf. וַיּ֫וֹחֶל 1 S 13:8 Qr; 2 ms. תּוֹחֵל 10:8; אוֹחִיל 2 K 6:33 La 3:21, 24; אוֹחִ֫ילָה Je 4:19 Qr (Kt אָחוּלָה), Mi 7:7; אֹחִילָה 2 S 18:14;—wait, tarry, abs. (proposes shew a waiting attitude): 1 S 10:8 (sq. עַד בּוֹאִי), 13:8 (Qr; cf. Niph.); 2 S 18:14 Jb 32:16 Je 4:19 (v. I. חול 3); wait for, hope for (as Pi.), sq. לְ 2 K 6:33 Mi 7:7 La 3:24 Jb 32:11 ψ 38:16; 42:6, 12; 43:5; 130:5 (‖ קִוִּיתִי); abs. hope, La 3:21.

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Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 41 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (17 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (13 candidates)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every English meaning of «יָחַל» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3176/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.

### In the verses

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[Lamentations 3:21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/LAM.3.21/)

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זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃ס

*Word for word:* this I.bring.back to heart my therefore I.will.wait

*JPS 1917:* This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

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[Psalms 119:49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.119.49/)

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זְכֹר־דָּבָ֥ר לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ עַ֝֗ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽחַלְתָּֽנִי׃

*Word for word:* remember \[the\].word to servant your on that you have.made.me.hope

*JPS 1917:* Remember the word unto Thy servant, because Thou hast made me to hope.

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