Lexical Definition

‎הָלַל‎ hâlal (haw-lal') to shine ^H:V
a primitive root

(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.

• to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color)
• to shine
• hence, to make ashow, to boast
• and thus to be (clamorously) foolish
• to rave
• causatively, to celebrate
• also to stultify

1) to shine
1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
2) to praise, boast, be boastful
2a) (Qal)
2a1) to be boastful
2a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
2b) (Piel)
2b1) to praise
2b2) to boast, make a boast
2c) (Pual)
2c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
2d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
2e) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
2f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman

See Greek: ἀγαλλιάω · αἴνεσις · αἰνέω · αἶνος · ἄνομος · δίδωμι · ἐνδοξάζω · ἐξίστημι · ἐξομολογέω · ἐπαινέω · ἐπιφαύω · ἐπιφώσκω · εὐλογέω · κατακαυχάομαι · καυχάομαι · μαίνομαι · παρανομέω · παραφέρω · πενθέω · περιφέρω · προσποιέομαι · ὑμνέω · ὕμνος · ἀλληλουϊα

Extended Information

meaning of: הָלַל

• : boast

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [‎הָלַל‎] verb shine (according to Thes and others= II. ‎הלל‎ (splenduit, from sonuit acute, clare, so Thes; these meanings, however, merely assumed); but see Lag^{Or. ii. 19 & below following}; compare Arabic begin to shine, new moon; Assyrian êllu, bright COT^Gloss) —

Qal only Infinitive suffix ‎בְּהִלּוֺ נֵרוֺ עֲלֵי ראֹשִׁי‎ Job 29:3 when it, namely his lamp, shone upon my head (compare Ew^{§ 309 c}), figurative of God's favour. Hiph`il Imperfect ‎יָהֵל‎ Job 31:26, 3 feminine singular ‎תָּהֶל‎ Job 41:10* 3 masculine plural ‎יָהֵ֫לּוּ‎ Isa 13:10 — flash forth light, of heavenly bodies, ‎אוֺר‎ = sun Job 31:26 (|| ‎יָרֵחַ יָקָר הֹלֵךְ‎); followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verb ‎כּוֺכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וּכְּסִילֵיהֶם לֹא יָהֵלּוּ אוֺרָם‎ Isa 13:10 (|| ‎חָשַׁךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ‎, & ‎יָרֵחַ לֹאיַֿגִּיהַּ אוֺרוֺ‎); also of crocodile ‎עֲטִישֹׁתָיו תָּ֫הֶל אוֺר‎ Job 41:10* his sneezings flash forth light (shining water-drops).

Also see: אֱלֹהִים | יָהּ

II. [‎הָלַל‎] verb be boastful, Pi`el praise (Arabic shout, both in joy & (if conjecture of Nö RS be right, see citation below) in terror; especially II. in formula of worship; Syriac Pa`el cecinit, laudavit; compare Late Hebrew ‎הִלּוּל‎ praise, ‎הַלֵּל‎ id., Hallel (Psalm 113-118); Aramaic ‎הִילּוּלָא‎ marriage-song, &c.; on Assyrian alâlu, shout for joy, rejoice see Lyon^{Sargontexte 66 (Cylinder. 1. 36)} also Winckler^{Sargontexte 134, 1. 194; 156. 1. 149} KB^{44. 1. 36; 80. 1. 194}; all variations of cry aloud, compare Nö^{ZMG 1887, 723} RS^{Semitic 411}; perhaps originally break through, or out (in a cry), compare We^{Skizzen iii. 107 ff., especially 109}; compare also (according to Prät^{BAS i. 369 f.}) Ethiopic implore (compare Amharic, Tigrinya), & swear) —

Qal Imperfect 2 masculine plural ‎תָּהֹ֑לּוּ‎ Ps 75:5* Participle ‎הוֺלֲלִים‎ Ps 5:6* + 2 t.; — be boastful ‎אַלתָּֿהֹ֑לּוּ‎ Ps 75:5* (|| ‎אַלֿ‎ (‎תָּרִימוּקָ֑רֶן‎); Participle boastful ones, boasters Ps 5:6* (|| ‎פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן‎); Ps 73:3; Ps 75:5* (both || ‎רְשָׁעִים‎). Pi`el Perfect ‎הִלֵּל‎ Ps 10:3, 1 singular suffix ‎הִלַּלְתִּיךָ‎ Ps 119:164 3 masculine plural ‎וְהִלֲלן‎ consecutive Isa 62:9, suffix ‎הִלֲלוּךָ‎ Isa 64:10*. etc.; Imperfect ‎יְהַלֶּלֿ‎ Ps 63:6*; Ps 102:19* suffix ‎יְהַלֶּלְךָ‎ Prov 27:2, ‎יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ‎ Isa 38:18, ‎וַיְהַלֲלָהּ‎ Prov 31:38: 1 singular ‎אֲהַלֵּל‎ Ps 56:5* + 2 t., cohortative ‎אֲהַלֲלָה‎ Ps 69:31* + 2 t., etc.; Imperative feminine singular ‎הַלֲלִי‎ Ps 146:1; Ps 147:12 masculine plural ‎הַלְלוּ‎ Ps 104:35 + 30 t. Psalm + Jer 20:13; Jer 31:7 suffix ‎הַלֲלוּ֫הוּ‎ Ps 22:24* + 15 t. Psalms; Infinitive absolute ‎הַלֵּל‎ 1Chr 16:36 construct ‎הַלֵּל‎ 2Sam 14:25 + 16 t. Chronicles; Participle plural ‎מְהַלֲלִים‎ 1Chr 23:5 + 4 t. Chronicles; —

1. praise man or woman, accusative ‎וַיְהַלֲלוּ אֹתָהּ אֶלפַּֿרְעֹה‎ Gen 12:15 (J) and they praised her to Pharaoh, compare Prov 27:2; Prov 31:28; Prov 31:31; Song 6:9 ‎וְהַמְהַלֲלִים אֶתהַֿמֶּלָךְ‎ 2Chr 23:12 and those praising (shouting acclamations to) the king; see also ‎לְהַלֵּל מְאֹד‎ 2Sam 14:25 (of Absalom's beauty); in bas sense ‎עֹזְבֵי תוֺרָה יְהַלֲלוּ רָשָׁע‎ Prov 28:4 deserters of law praise a wicked man.

2. usually praise ‎אֱלֹהִים‎, ‎׳‎‎י‎ etc.;
a. followed by accusative of heathen god Judg 16:24.
b. object ‎׳‎‎(אֱלֹהִים) י‎; Ps 119:164 (‎עַל‎ on account of), subject heaven, earth, seas, etc., Ps 69:35* ‎תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי ותְהַלֲלֶךָּ‎ Ps 119:175 in summons to all creatures to praise Ps 148:5; Ps 148:13; Isa 38:18 ‎לֹא שְׁאוֺל תּוֺדֶךָּ מָוֶת יְהַלֲלֶ֑ךָּ‎ (compare Ps 115:17); often of Public worship in sanctuary, Isa 62:9 (thanks giving in sanctuary after harvest), compare Isa 64:10*; Ps 22:23* (|| ‎אֲסַפְּרָה שִׁמְךָ‎), vPs 22:27*; Ps 35:18; Ps 109:30 (both || ‎אוֺדְךָ‎) Ps 107:32 (|| ‎יְרוֺמֲמוּהוּ‎) Ps 84:5*, see also Ps 146:2 (|| ‎׳‎‎אֲזַמְּרָה לֵא‎) Ps 149:3 (with ‎בְּ‎ instrumental; || ‎יְזַמְּרוּ לוֺ‎); also object ‎׳‎‎שֵׁם י‎ (in some cases of public worship) Ps 74:21; Ps 148:5; Joel 2:26 (thanksgiving after harvest); ‎שֵׁםאֱֿלֹהִים בְּשִׁיר‎ Ps 69:31* (|| ‎וִאֲגַדְּלֶנּוּ בְתוֺדָה‎), Ps 145:2 (|| ‎אֲבָֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ‎); further, Ps 56:5* ‎בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דְּבָרוֺ‎, also vPs 56:11* + vPs 56:11*b ‎׳‎‎ביהוה וגו‎, but compare Hup Che on 11:b as editorial addition; object not expressed ‎אֶתעַֿמְּךָ‎ ‎׳‎‎הַשְׁמִיעוּ הַלֲלוּ וְאִמְרוּ הוֺשַׁע י‎ Jer 31:7, ‎וְשִׂפְתֵי‎ ‎רְנָנוֺת יְהַלֶּלפִּֿי‎ Ps 63:6*.
c. use of Imperative deserves special notice: ‎הַלֲלוּהוּ‎ Ps 22:24* (|| ‎כַּבְּדוּהוּ‎; of temple-worship compare vPs 22:23* vPs 22:25*); also in summons to angles, sun, moon, etc. (all created things) to praise ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 148:2 (twice in verse); Ps 148:3 (twice in verse); Ps 148:4; Ps 150:1 of temple-worship Ps 150:2 (‎בְּ‎ on account of) vPs 150:2 (‎כְּ‎), vPs 150:3 vPs 150:3 vPs 150:4 vPs 150:4 vPs 150:5 vPs 150:5 (all with ‎בְּ‎ instrumental); further Jer 20:13 (|| ‎׳‎‎שִׁירוּ לי‎), ‎׳‎‎הַלֲלוּ אֶתיֿ‎ Ps 117:1 (addressed to nations, || ‎שַׁבְּחוּהוּ‎), Ps 148:7 (created things), ‎חַלֲלִי אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֺן‎ Ps 147:12 (|| ‎שַׁבְּחִי יְרוּשָׁלַםִ‎ ‎׳‎‎אֶתיֿ‎).
d. note especially: praise ye yah! ‎הַלֲלויָֿהּ‎ Ps 135:3, liturgical (|| ‎זַמְּרוּ לִשְׁמוֺ‎); elsewhere always one word see Baer^{Psalm p.115}, & always at beginning or end of Psalm (chiefly late), apparently liturgical; ‎הַלֲלוּיָהֿ֑‎ Ps 104:35 (|| ‎׳‎‎בָּֽרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶתיֿ‎), elsewhere ‎׃הַלֲלוּיָהּ‎ (I) at beginning Ps 106:1; Ps 111:1 (both || ‎הודה‎) Ps 112:1; Ps 113:1 (|| ‎הַלֲלוּ‎ & ‎׳‎‎אֶתשֵֿׁם י‎ ‎׳‎‎ה‎), Ps 135:1 (|| id.), Ps 146:1 (|| ‎׳‎‎הַלֲלִי נַפְשִׁי אֶתיֿ‎), Ps 147:1 (followed by ‎זַמְּרָה‎ in clause with ‎כִּי‎), Ps 148:1 (|| ‎׳‎‎הַלֲלוּ אֶתיֿ‎, ‎הַלֲלוּהוּ‎), Ps 149:1 (|| ‎׳‎‎שִׁירוּ לי‎), Ps 150:1 (|| ‎הַלֲלוּאֵֿל‎, ‎הַלֲלוּהוּ‎); (2) at end Ps 104:35 (above), Ps 105:45; Ps 106:48; Ps 113:9; Ps 115:18 (|| ‎נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ‎), Ps 116:19; Ps 117:2; Ps 135:21 (|| ‎׳‎‎בָּרוּךְ י‎) Ps 146:10; Ps 147:20; Ps 148:14; Ps 149:9; Ps 150:6 (|| ‎כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ‎); add to these (not liturgical) ‎יְהַלֶּליָֿהּ‎ Ps 102:19*, ‎כֹּל נְשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ‎ Ps 150:6, ‎לֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלֲלויָֿהּ‎ Ps 115:17.
e. also followed by ‎ליהוה‎, in Chronicles, of technical Levitical function (compare Lag^{Or.ii.16 ff.}, who limits this technical ‎הלל‎ to priests, using ‎חֲצֹצְרוֺת‎, for a signal to the people; see e.g. Neh 12:24 compare vNeh 12:27), 1Chr 16:4 (with instrumental music, compare ‎בִּכְלֵי כְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֺת‎ & ‎בַּמְצִלְתַּיִ ם‎, all v1Chr 16:5, and Neh 12:27) 1Chr 23:30; 1Chr 25:3 (all || ‎הוֺדוֺת‎); exercised (apparently) by both priests and Levites Ezra 3:11 (|| ‎הֹדוֺת‎) compare vEzra 3:11 by Levites 2Chr 20:19 (‎בְּקֹל גָּדוֺל‎), 2Chr 29:30 (‎בְּדִבְרֵי דָוִיד‎) in which the people also joined 1Chr 16:36 also 2Chr 5:13 (‎בַּחֲצֹצְרוֺת וּבִמְצִלְתַּיִם וּבִכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר‎ compare also v2Chr 5:12 || ‎הֹדוֺת‎, v2Chr 5:13 apparently of Levites & priests), ‎בַּכֵּלִים‎ ‎׳‎‎מְהַלֲלִים לי‎ 1Chr 23:5 (Levites) compare 2Chr 30:21 (Levites & priests ‎׳‎‎בִּכְלֵי עֹז לי‎); followed by ‎לְשֵׁם תִּפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ‎ 1Chr 29:13 (|| ‎מוֺדִים‎; David speaks in name of people); followed by ‎לְהַדְרַתקֹֿ֑דֶשׁ‎ 2Chr 20:11 (before the army; || ‎׳‎‎מְשֹׁרֲרִים לי‎; probably of Levites, compare v2Chr 20:19). feminine followed by accusative ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ezra 3:10 (priests & Levites: ‎עַליְֿדֵי‎ ‎דָּוִיד‎), Neh 5:13 (people).
g. other forms, with like technical sense, but absolute: ‎לְהַלֵּל לְהוֺדוֺת‎ ‎בְּמִצְוַת דָּוִיד‎ Neh 12:24 (Levites) compare 1Chr 23:5; 2Chr 8:14; 2Chr 29:30 (‎עַדלְֿשִׂמְחָה‎) 2Chr 31:2 (apparently priests & Levites; ‎׳‎‎בְּשַׁעֲדֵי מַחֲנוֺת י‎; || ‎לְשָׁרֵת וּלְהֹוֺדוֺת‎); see also ‎מוֺדִיעִים לְהַלֵּל‎ 2Chr 23:13 (|| ‎מְשׁוֺרֲרִים בִּכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר‎ ‎בְּהַלֵּל דָּוִיד בְּיָדָם‎ ). 2Chr 7:6 (|| ‎הֹדוֺת ליהוּה‎)

3. apparently boast, male one's boast compare Qal 2 (followed by ‎בְּ‎ in, of), ‎בֵּאלֹהִים‎ Ps 44:9* (|| ‎שִׁמְךָ לְעוֺלָם נוֺדֶה‎); so according to most, in bad sense, ‎רָשָׁע עַלתַּֿאֲוַת נַפְשׁוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎ה‎ Ps 10:3 a wicked man boasteth of the desire of his soul, but Che praiseth (‎׳‎‎י‎) for (i.e. in a mercenary spirit). Pu`al Perfect 3 plural ‎הוּלָּ֑לוּ‎ Ps 78:63 Imperfect ‎יְהֻלַּלֿ‎ Prov 12:8 Participle ‎מְהֻלָּל‎ 2Sam 22:4 + 6 t.; feminine ‎הַהֻלָּ֑לָה‎ Ezek 26:17 (compare Ol^{§ 250 c} Sta^{§ 220, 617 b}; ᵑ0, however, accents as Perfect, regarding ‎הַ‎ as = relative, see sta:§ 176 c Ges^{«GKC:52»§ 52}. 2, R. 6); — be praised,

1. human subject be praised, commended Prov 12:18 (opposed to ‎יִהְיֶה לָבוּז‎); of maidens, praised, celebrated (in song) Ps 78:63 participle (see above) of city, renowned Ezek 26:17.

2. of ‎׳‎‎י‎ only participle = gerundive, to be praised, worthy of praise 2Sam 22:4 = Ps 18:4* ‎מְאֹד‎ ‎׳‎‎וּמְה‎ ‎׳‎‎גָּדוֺל י‎ Ps 48:2*; Ps 96:4 = 1Chr 16:25; Ps 145:3 so ‎׳‎‎שֵׁם י‎ ‎׳‎‎מְה‎ Ps 113:3. Hithpa. Imperfect ‎יִתְהַלֵּל‎ 1Kgs 20:11 + 5 t.; ‎יִתְהַלָּ֑ל‎ Prov 20:14 3 feminine singular ‎תִּתְּהַלֵּל‎ Ps 34:3*, ‎תִּתְּהַלָּ֑ל‎ Prov 31:30 2 masculine singular ‎תִּתְהַלֵּל‎ Ps 52:3*; Prov 27:1 ‎תִּתְהַלָּ֑ל‎ Isa 41:16 2 feminine singular ‎תִּתְהַלֲלִי‎ Jer 49:4 3 masculine plural ‎יִתְהַלֲלוּ‎ Ps 64:11*; Isa 45:25 ‎יִתְהַלָּ֑לוּ‎ Isa 49:7; Jer 4:2 Imperative masculine plural ‎הִתְהַלֲלוּ‎ 1Chr 16:10; Ps 105:3 Infinitive ‎לְהִתְהַלֵּל‎ Ps 106:5 Participle ‎מִתְהַלֵּל‎ Prov 25:14; Jer 9:23* plural ‎מִתְהַלֲלִים‎ Ps 97:7 — glory, boast, make one's boast: —

1. of self-confident boasting, absolute 1Kgs 20:11 compare Prov 20:14 followed by ‎בְּ‎ of ground of boast Jer 9:22* (3 t. in verse); Jer 49:4; Ps 49:7*; Ps 52:3*; Prov 25:14, ‎אַלתִּֿתְהַלֵּל‎ ‎בְּיוֺם מָחָר‎ Prov 27:1 of glorying in idols ‎הַמִּתְהַלֲלִים‎ ‎בָּאֱלִלִים‎ Ps 97:7.

2. of glorying, making one's boast in (‎בְּ‎, on the ground of) ‎׳‎‎תִּתְהַלֵּל ׃י‎ ‎׳‎‎בי‎ ‎נַפְשִׁי‎ Ps 34:3*, compare Isa 45:25; Jer 4:2 (|| ‎וְהִתְבָּֽרְכוּ בוֺ‎); followed by ‎בִּקְדוֺשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ Isa 41:16 see also Ps 105:3 = 1Chr 16:10 followed by ‎) בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֺ‎ || ‎׳‎‎(יִשְׂמַה לֵב מְבַקְשֵׁי י‎, compare further Jer 9:23* less often absolute Jer 9:23*; Ps 63:12*; Ps 64:11*; followed by ‎עִםנַֿחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ‎ together with thine heritage (|| ‎לִשְׂמֹהַ בְּשִׂמְהַת גּוֶֺ י֑ךָ‎).

3. once, late = passive be praised, commended, of God-fearing woman Prov 31:30. Po`el Imperfect ‎יְהוֺלֵל‎ Isa 44:25 + 2 t.; — make into a fool, make fool of, object ‎שֹׁפְטִים‎ Job 12:17 (subject ‎׳‎‎י‎; || ‎מוֺלִיךְ יוֺעֲצִים שׁוֺלָ֑ל‎); object ‎קֹסְמִים‎ Isa 44:25 (subject ‎׳‎‎י‎ || ‎מֵפֵר אֹתוֺת בַּדִּים‎; object ‎הָכָם‎ Eccl 7:7 (subject ‎הָעשֶׁק‎; || ‎וִיאַבֵּד אֶתלֵֿב מַתָּנָה‎). Po`al Participle ‎לִשְׂהוֺק אָמַרְתִּי מְהוֺלָ֑ל‎ Eccl 2:2 of laughter I said, It is mad (folly); ‎מְהוֺלָלַי‎ Ps 102:9* those mad against me (|| ‎אוֺיְבָ֑י‎). Hithpo`el Imperfect ‎וַיִּתְהֹלֵל‎ 1Sam 21:14* 3 masculine plural ‎יִתְהֹלֲלוּ‎ Jer 51:7, ‎יִתְהוֺלֲלוּ‎ Nah 2:5*, ‎יִתְהֹלֶ֑לוּ‎ Jer 50:38 Imperative masculine plural ‎הִתְהֹלֲלוּ‎ Jer 49:9, ‎הִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ‎ Jer 25:16 — act madly, or like a madman, ‎וַיִּתְהֹלֵל‎ ‎בְּיָדָם‎ 1Sam 21:14* (of David) and he acted like a madman in their hands; of idolatrous worship by Chaldeans ‎׳‎‎וּבָאֵימִים יִתְה‎ Jer 50:38 of nations, as drunken men, figurative of terror at Yahweh's judgements, Jer 25:16 (|| ‎הִתְגֹּעֲשׁוּ‎) Jer 51:7 also of madly driving & jolting chariots Nah 2:5*; Jer 46:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References