Lexical Definition

‎אָלַם‎ ʼâlam (aw-lam') be dumb ^H:V
a primitive root

bind, be dumb, put to silence.

• to tie fast
• hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied

1) to bind
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be dumb
1a2) to be bound
1b) (Piel) binding (part.)

See Greek: δεσμεύω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎אָלַם‎] verb bind (perhaps compare Assyrian [al¹mu], almattu, fortress Dl in Zim^{BP 114} & in BD^Ezek.:xi; Arabic be in pain, Aramaic retain anger). Niph`al (be bound =) be dumb, Perfect 3 feminine singular ‎נֶאֱלָ֑מָה‎ Isa 53:7 ‎וְנֶאֱלַמְתָּ֫‎ Ezek 3:26, etc.; Imperfect 2 masculine singular ‎תֵּאָלֵם‎ Ezek 24:27 3 feminine plural ‎תֵּאָלַמְנָה‎ Ps 31:19*. —

1. be dumb, i.e. silent Ps 39:3* ‎דוּמִיָּה‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ (|| ‎הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי‎); compare vPs 39:10* (|| ‎לֹא אֶפְתַּחפִּֿי‎); simile of sheep Isa 53:7 (|| id.); be dumb, i.e. unable to speak Ezek 3:26 (result of ‎וּלְשׁוֺנְךָ אַדְבִּיק אֶלחִֿכָּ֑ךָ‎) compare Ezek 24:27 ‎יִפָּתַח פִּיךָ ֗֗֗ ‎ ‎וּתְדַבֵּר וְלֹא תֵאָלֵם עוֺד‎; Ezek 33:22 ‎וַיִּפְתַּח פִּי וְלֹא נֶאֱלַמְתִּי עוֺד‎; also Dan 10:15 (compare vDan 10:16); be made dumb subject ‎שִׂפְתֵי שָׁ֑קֶר‎ lying lips Ps 31:19* (|| ‎יִדְּמוּ לִשְׁאוֺל‎ vPs 31:18*). Pi`el Participle bind Gen 37:7 (E) ‎מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים‎ binding sheaves.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References