--- title: הָלַל — be boastful · The Tanakh dictionary description: הָלַל (lemma:הָלַל), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 161 times: be boastful. BDB 1906: vb. Pi. Hithpa. Poʿel Poʿal. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/lemma_3a_5d4_5b8_5dc_5b7_5dc.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/) / [ה](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1492.md)‎ / הָלַל‎ # הָלַל «הָלַל» in the Tanakh dictionary: **be boastful** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers. **Used:** 161 times · **Key:** lemma:הָלַל · **BDB:** הָלַל² ### Glosses praise (64); boast (5); let.him.boast (5) ### Meaning (OSHB) be boastful [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1492/lemma_3a_5d4_5b8_5dc_5b7_5dc/#m1) ### Meaning (BDB 1906) vb. Pi. Hithpa. Poʿel Poʿal [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1492/lemma_3a_5d4_5b8_5dc_5b7_5dc/#m2) **The whole BDB entry:** vb. be boastful, Pi. praise (Arabic هَلَّ shout, both in joy \& (if conject. of Nö RS be right, v. cit. infr.) in terror; especially ii. in formula of worship; Syriac Pa. ܗܰܥܶܠ cecinit, laudavit; cf. NH הִלּוּל praise, הַלֵּל id., Hallel (ψ 113–118); Aramaic הִילּוּלָא marriage-song, \&c.; on Assyrian alâlu, shout for joy, rejoice v. Lyon Sargontexte 66 (Cylinder, l. 36) also WincklerSargontexte 134, l. 194; 156, l. 149 KB44, l. 36; 80, l. 194; all variations of cry aloud, cf. NöZMG 1887, 723 RSSem 411; perhaps orig. break through, or out (in a cry), cf. WeSkizzen iii. 107 ff., especially 109; comp. also (according to PrätBAS i. 369 f.) Ethiopic ተማህለለ; implore (cf. Amhar. Tigr.), \& መሀለ; swear)— Impf. 2 mpl. תָּהֹ֑לּוּ ψ 75:5; Pt. הוֹלֲלִים ψ 5:6 + 2 times;—be boastful אַל־תָּהֹ֑לּוּ ψ 75:5 (‖ אַל־תָּרִימוּקָ֑רֶן); pt. boastful ones, boasters ψ 5:6 (‖ פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן); 73:3; 75:5 (both ‖ רְשָׁעִים). Pf. הִלֵּל ψ 10:3, 1 s. sf. הִלַּלְתִּיךָ ψ 119:164; 3 mpl. וְהִלֲלוּ consec. Is 62:9, sf. הִלֲלוּךָ Is 64:10, etc.; Impf. יְהַלֶּל־ ψ 63:6; 102:19; sf. יְהַלֶּלְךָ Pr 27:2, יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ Is 38:18, וַיְהַלֲלָהּ Pr 31:28; 31 s. אֲהַלֵּל ψ 56:5 + 2 times, cohort. אֲהַלֲלָה ψ 69:31 + 2 times, etc.; Imv. fs. הַלֲלִי ψ 146:1; 147:12; mpl. הַלְלוּ ψ 104:35 + 30 times ψ + Je 20:13; 31:7; sf. הַלֲלוּ֫הוּ ψ 22:24 + 15 times ψ; Inf. abs. הַלֵּל 1 Ch 16:36; cstr. הַלֵּל 2 S 14:25 + 16 times Chr; Pt. pl. מְהַלֲלִים 1 Ch 23:5 + 4 times Ch;— praise man or woman, acc. וַיְהַלֲלוּ אֹתָהּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה Gn 12:15 (J) and they praised her to Pharaoh, cf. Pr 27:2; 31:28, 31 Ct 6:9; וְהַמְהַלֲלִים אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ 2 Ch 23:12 and those praising (shouting acclamations to) the king; v. also לְהַלֵּל מְאֹד 2 S 14:25 (of Absalom’s beauty); in bad sense עֹזְבֵי תוֹרָה יְהַלֲלוּ רָשָׁע Pr 28:4 deserters of law praise a wicked man. usually praise אֱלֹהִים, י׳, etc.: sq. acc. of heathen god Ju 16:24. obj. י׳ (אֱלֹהִים); ψ 119:164 (עַל on account of), subj. heaven, earth, seas, etc., ψ 69:35; תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי וּתְהַלֲלֶךָּ ψ 119·164;175; in summons to all creatures to praise 148:5, 13; Is 38:18 לֹא שְׁאוֹל תּוֹדֶךָּ מָוֶת יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ (cf. ψ 115:17); often of public worship in sanctuary, Is 62:9 (thanksgiving in sanctuary after harvest), cf. 64:10 ψ 22:23 (‖ אֲסַפְּרָה שִׁמְךָ), v 27; 35:18; 109:30 (both ‖ אוֹדְךָ) 107:32 (‖ יְרוֹמֲמוּהוּ) 84:5, v. also 146:2 (‖ אֲזַמְּרָה לֵא׳) 149:3 (c. בְּ instr.; ‖ יְזַמְּרוּ לוֹ) also obj. שֵׁם י׳ (in some cases of public worship) ψ 74:21; 148:5, Jo 2:26 (thanksgiving after harvest); שֵׁם־אֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁיר ψ 69:31 (‖ וַאֲגַדְּלֶנּוּ בְתוֹדָה), 145:2 (‖ אֲכָֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ); further, ψ 56:5 בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דְּבָרוֹ, also v 11 + v 11b ביהוה וגו׳, but cf. Hup Che on 11b as editorial addition; obj. not expressed הַשְׁמִיעוּ הַלֲלוּ וְאִמְרוּ הוֹשַׁע י׳ אֶת־עַמְּךָ Je 31:7, וְשִׂפְתֵי רְנָנוֹת יְהַלֶּל־פִּי ψ 63:6. use of Imv. deserves special notice: הַלֲלוּהוּ ψ 22:24 (‖ כַּבְּדוּהוּ; of temple-worship cf. v 23, 25); also in summons to angels, sun, moon, etc. (all created things) to praise י׳ 148:2(×2), 3(×2), 4; 150:1; of temple-worship 150:2 (בְּ on account of) v 2 (כְּ), v 3(×2), 4(×2), 5(×2) (all c. בְּ instr.); further Je 20:13 (‖ שִׁירוּ לי׳), הַלֲלוּ אֶת־י׳ ψ 117:1 (addressed to nations, ‖ שַׁבְּחוּהוּ), 148:7 (created things), הַלֲלִי אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֹן 147:12 (‖ שַׁבְּחִי יְרוּשָׁלִַם אֶת־י׳). note especially: praise ye Yah! הַלֲלוּ־יָהּ ψ 135:3, liturgical (‖ זַמְּרוּ לִשְׁמוֹ); elsewhere always one word v. Baerψ p. 115, \& always at beginning or end of ψ (chiefly late), appar. liturgical; הַלֲלוּיָ֑הֿ ψ 104:35 (‖ בָּֽרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־י׳), elsewhere הַלֲלוּיָהּ: (1) at beginning ψ 106:1; 111:1 (both ‖ הודה) 112:1; 113:1 (‖ הַלֲלוּ \& ה׳ אֶת־שֵׁם י׳), 135:1 (‖ id.), 146:1 (‖ הַלֲלִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־י׳), 147:1 (sq. זַמְּרָה in cl. with כִּי), 148:1 (‖ הַלֲלוּ אֶת־י׳, הַלֲלוּהוּ), 149:1 (‖ שִׁירוּ לי׳), 150:1 (‖ הַלֲלוּ־אֵל, הַלֲלוּהוּ); (2) at end ψ 104:35 (supr.), 105:45; 106:48; 113:9; 115:18 (‖ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ), 116:19; 117:2; 135:21 (‖ בָּרוּךְ י׳) 146:10; 147:20; 148:14; 149:9; 150:6 (‖ כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ); add to these (not liturgical) יְהַלֶּל־יָהּ ψ 102:19, כֹּל נְשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ 150:6, לֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלֲלוּ־יָהּ 115:17. also sq. ליהוה, in Chr, of technical Levitical function (cf. LagOr. ii. 16 ff., who limits this technical הלל to priests, using חֲצֹצְרוֹת, for a signal to the people; v. e.g. Ne 12:24 cf. v 27), 1 Ch 16:4 (with instrumental music, cf. בִּכְלֵי נְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת \& בַּמְצִלְתַּיִם, all v 5, and Ne 12:27) 23:30; 25:3 (all ‖ הוֹדוֹת); exercised (apparently) by both priests and Levites Ezr 3:11 (‖ הֹדוֹת) cf. v 11; by Levites 2 Ch 20:19 (בְּקֹל גָּדוֹל), 29:30 (בְּדִבְרֵי דָוִיד) in which the people also joined 1 Ch 16:36; also 2 Ch 5:13 (בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וּבִמְצִלְתַּיִם וּבִכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר cf. also v 12; ‖ הֹדוֹת), v 13 (appar. of Levites \& priests), מְהַלֲלִים לי׳ בַּכֵּלִים 1 Ch 23:5 (Levites) cf. 2 Ch 30:21 (Levites \& priests בִּכְלֵי עֹז לי׳); sq. לְשֵׁם תִּפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ 1 Ch 29:13 (‖ מוֹדִים; David speaks in name of people); sq. לְהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ 2 Ch 20:21 (before the army; ‖ מְשֹׁרֲרִים לי׳; prob. of Levites, cf. v 19). sq. acc. י׳ Ezr 3:10 (priests \& Levites: עַל־יְדֵי דָּוִיד), Ne 5:13 (people). other forms, with like technical sense, but abs.: לְהַלֵּל לְהוֹדוֹת בְּמִצְוַת דָּוִיד Ne 12:24 (Levites) cf. 1 Ch 23:5 2 Ch 8:14; 29:30 (עַד־לְשִׂמְחָה) 2 Ch 31:2 (appar. priests \& Levites; בְּשַׁעֲרֵי מַחֲנוֹת י׳; ‖ לְשָׁרֵת וּלְהֹדוֹת); v. also מוֹדִיעִים לְהַלֵּל 2 Ch 23:13 (‖ מְשׁוֹרֲרִים בִּכְלַי הַשִּׁיר); בְּהַלֵּל דָּוִיד בְּיָדָם 2 Ch 7:6 (‖ הֹדוֹת ליהוה). appar. make one’s boast cf. Hithpa. 2 (sq. בְּ in, of), בֵּאלֹהִים ψ 44:9 (‖ שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם נוֹדֶה); so, according to most, in bad sense, ה׳ רָשָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַת נַפְשׁוֹ ψ 10:3 a wicked man boasteth of the desire of his soul, but Che praiseth (י׳) for (i.e. in a mercenary spirit). Pf. 3 pl. הוּלָּ֑לוּ ψ 78:63; Impf. יְהֻלַּל־ Pr 12:8; Pt. מְהֻלָּל 2 S 22:4 + 6 times; f. הַהֻלָּ֑לָה Ez 26:17 (cf. Ol§ 250 c Sta§ 220, 617 b; MT, however, accents as Pf., regarding הַ as = relative, v. Sta§ 176 c Ges§ 52. 2, R. 6);—be praised, human subj., be praised, commended Pr 12:8 (opp. יִהְיֶה לָבוּז); of maidens, praised, celebrated (in song) ψ 78:63; pt. (v. supr.) of city, renowned Ez 26:17. of י׳, only pt. = gerundive, to be praised, worthy of praise 2 S 22:4 = ψ 18:4; גָּדוֹל י׳ וּמְה׳ מְאֹד ψ 48:2; 96:4 = 1 Ch 16:25, ψ 145:3; so מְה׳ שֵׁם י׳ 113:3. Impf. יִתְהַלֵּל 1 K 20:11 + 5 times; יִתְהַלָּ֑ל Pr 20:14; 3 fs. תִּתְהַלֵּל ψ 34:3, תִּתְהַלָּ֑ל Pr 31:30; 2 ms. תִּתְהַלֵּל ψ 52:3 Pr 27:1; תִּתְהַלָּ֑ל Is 41:16; 2 fs. תִּתְהַלֲלִי Je 49:4; 3 mpl. יִתְהַלֲלוּ ψ 64:11 Is 45:25; יִתְהַלָּ֑לוּ ψ 49:7 Je 4:2; Imv. mpl. הִתְהַלֲלוּ 1 Ch 16:10 ψ 105:3; Inf. לְהִתְהַלֵּל ψ 106:5; Pt. מִתְהַלֵּל Pr 25:14 Je 9:23; pl. מִתְהַלֲלִים ψ 97:7;—glory, boast, make one’s boast:— of self-confident boasting, abs. 1 K 20:11 cf. Pr 20:14; sq. בְּ of ground of boast Je 9:22(×3); 49:4 ψ 49:7; 52:3 Pr 25:14, אַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֹם מָחָר Pr 27:1; of glorying in idols הַמִּתְהַלֲלִים בָּאֱלִילִים ψ 97:7. of glorying, making one’s boast in (בְּ, on the ground of) י׳: בי׳ תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי ψ 34:3, cf. Is 45:25 Je 4:2 (‖ וְהִתְבָּֽרְכוּ בוֹ); sq. בִּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל Is 41:16; v. also ψ 105:3 = 1 Ch 16:10 sq. בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ (‖ יִשְׂמַח לֵב מְבַקְשֵׁי י׳), cf. further Je 9:23; less often abs. Je 9:23 ψ 63:12; 64:11 \& 106:5 sq. עִם־נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ together with thine heritage (‖ לִשְׂמֹחַ בְּשִׂמְחַת גּוֹיֶ֑ךָ). once, late = pass. be praised, commended, of God-fearing woman Pr 31:30. Poʿel Impf. יְהוֹלֵל Is 44:25 + 2 times;—make into a fool, make fool of, obj. שֹׁפְטִים Jb 12:17 (subj. י׳; ‖ מוֹלִיךְ יוֹעֲצִים שׁוֹלָ֑ל); obj. קֹסְמִים Is 44:25 (subj. י׳ ‖ מֵפֵר אֹתוֹת בַּדִּים); obj. חָכָם Ec 7:7 (subj. הָעשֶׁק; ‖ וִיאַבֵּד אֶת־לֵב מַתָּנָה). Poʿal Pt. לִשְׂחוֹק אָמַרְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל Ec 2:2 of laughter I said, It is mad (folly); מְהוֹלָלַי ψ 102:9 those mad against me (‖ אוֹיְבָ֑י). Impf. וַיִּתְהֹלֵל 1 S 21:14; 3 mpl. יִתְהֹלֲלוּ Je 51:7, יִתְהוֹלֲלוּ Na 2:5, יִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ Je 50:38; Imv. mpl. הִתְהֹלֲלוּ Je 46:9, הִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ Je 25:16;—act madly, or like a madman, וַיִּתְהֹלֵל בְּיָדָם 1 S 21:14 (of David) and he acted like a madman in their hands; of idolatrous worship by Chaldeans וּבָאֵימִים יִתְה׳ Je 50:38; of nations, as drunken men, fig. of terror at Yahweh’s judgments, Je 25:16 (‖ הִתְגֹּעֲשׁוּ) 51:7; also of madly driving \& jolting chariots Na 2:5 Je 46:9. Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 135 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses (6 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 0 with the glosses (6 candidates) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every English meaning of «הָלַל» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1492/lemma_3a_5d4_5b8_5dc_5b7_5dc/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames. ### In the verses [Job 12:17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/JOB.12.17/) מוֹלִ֣יךְ יוֹעֲצִ֣ים שׁוֹלָ֑ל וְֽשֹׁפְטִ֥ים יְהוֹלֵֽל׃ *Word for word:* \[he.is\].leading.away counselors barefoot and judges he.makes.look.foolish *JPS 1917:* He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools. [Psalms 146:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.146.1/) הַֽלְלוּ־יָ֡הּ הַלְלִ֥י נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃ *Word for word:* praise Yahweh praise my.self my (et) Yahweh *JPS 1917:* Praise the LORD, O my soul. - ← previous: [הִלֵּל](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/1985.md) - next →: [הָלַם](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/1986.md) - ↑ back to [ה](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1492.md)