Lexical Definition

‎אַל‎ ʼal (al) not ^H:Neg
a negative particle (akin to ‎לֹא‎)

nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.

• not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative)
• once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: al (‎א‎ַ‎ל‎ "not" אַל)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. ‎אַל‎ adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CIS^i.3,4.5.8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (DHM^{ZMG 1875, 596}), and in the Ethiopic albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like ‎לֹא‎ οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition:
a.
(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number; Gen 15:1 and often ‎אַלתִּֿירָא‎ fear not! Gen 22:12 ‎אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח יָָֽדְךָ‎ put not forth thy hand, Gen 37:27 ‎וְיָדֵנוּ אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ‎ and let not our hand be upon him, Gen 21:16 ‎אַלאֶֿרְאֶה‎ let me not look upon the death of the lad! Ps 25:2 ‎אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה‎ let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) 2Sam 13:25; Jer 18:18; Jonah 1:14. In an imprecation: Gen 49:4 ‎אַלתּֿוֺתַר‎ have not thou the excellency! Ps 109:12; Job 3:4; Job 3:6. Sometimes strengthened by ‎נָא‎ : Gen 13:8; Gen 18:3 and elsewhere
(b) without a verb, (α) 2Sam 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Isa 62:6; Ps 83:1*. (β) used absolutely, in deprecation Gen 19:18; 2Sam 13:16 (see below ‎אוֺדָה‎) 2Kgs 3:13; 2Kgs 4:16; 2Kgs 6:27 (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr^{§ 152 iii}; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew^{§ 355 b}) Ruth 1:13 ‎אַל בְּנֹתַי‎ Nay, my daughters, compare Judg 19:23 (γ) after a preceding imperative Amos 5:14; Joel 2:13; Prov 8:10, a jussive Prov 27:2, an infinitive absolute Prov 27:2. (χ) in poetry ‎אַל‎ sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr^{§ 56-8}); Isa 2:9 ‎וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא לָהֶם‎ and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Ps 41:3*; Prov 3:25; Job 5:22; Ps 34:6* (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Ew Che here read ‎וּפְנֵיכֶם‎, probably rightly); Ps 50:3 a may our God come ‎וְאַלֿ‎ ‎יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ‎ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene vPs 50:2; Ps 50:3 b-c) Ps 121:3 (contrast vPs 121:4 ‎לֹא‎) Jer 46:6 +.
b. once Prov 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare ‎לֹא‎ 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway therecf ‎אַלמָֿוֶת‎ there is no-death! i.e. immortality.
c. once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words ‎לְאַל‎ to nought! — N.B. 1Sam 27:10 ‎אַלפְּֿשַׁטְתֶּם הַיּוֺם‎, ‎אַל‎ with the perfect is against all analogy; and either ‎אֶלמִֿי‎ (with ᵐ5. ᵑ9), or better ‎אָן‎ whither? (with ᵑ6 ᵑ7 : see 1Sam 10:14) must be read.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References