Original Word: הֲמֻלּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: hamullah
Pronunciation: hah-moo-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ham-ool-law')
KJV: speech, tumult
NASB: tumult
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to rush (as rain with a windy roar)]

1. a sound

speech, tumult

Or (too fully) hamuwllah (Jer. 11:l6) {ham- ool-law'}; feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to rush (as rain with a windy roar); a sound -- speech, tumult.

see HEBREW 'ebeh

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
perhaps rainstorm, a rushing or roaring sound
NASB Translation
tumult (2).

הֲמֻלָּה, הֲמוּלָּה noun feminine rain-storm (?),rushing or roaring sound (?): קוֺל הֲמוּלָּה גְדֹלָה Jeremiah 11:16 sound of a great storm, of wind fanning flames in tree (in figurative of Yahweh's judgement on Judah); > AV RV Da tumult; קוֺל הֲמֻלָּה כְּקוֺל מַחֲנֶה Ezekiel 1:24 of noise of wings of living creatures in Ezekiel's vision (strike out B Co compare Hi).

Biblical Usage

The noun הֲמֻלָּה occurs twice, each time evoking an overwhelming, resonant noise. In Jeremiah 11:16 it is “a mighty roar” consuming a once-fruitful olive tree; in Ezekiel 1:24 it is “the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army.” Both contexts place the word in scenes of divine activity—either judgment or revelation—underscoring that הֲמֻלָּה signals the presence of God’s irresistible power.

Literary Imagery

1. Auditory Shock: The term conveys not a gentle breeze but an earsplitting, attention-commanding surge. It parallels “many waters” and “army,” inviting readers to imagine thunderous surf or massed troops.
2. Destructive Potential: In Jeremiah, the roar preludes fiery devastation; the sound itself anticipates the judgment it introduces.
3. Majestic Glory: In Ezekiel, the same intensity that judges also glorifies; the heavenly beings’ movement is dignified by a roar likened to “the voice of the Almighty.”

Theological Significance

• Divine Sovereignty: הֲמֻלָּה symbolizes the unstoppable authority of the LORD. Whether uprooting covenant-breaking Judah or unveiling celestial glory, the effect is immediate submission before the Creator.
• Holiness and Fear: The roaring motif cultivates godly fear, reminding the faithful that grace never nullifies God’s awesome otherness (compare Hebrews 12:29).
• Revelation in Sensory Form: Scripture often joins sight with sound when God manifests Himself (Exodus 19:16-19; Revelation 1:15). הֲמֻלָּה contributes to this multisensory theology, affirming that true revelation engages the whole person.

Prophetic Context

Jeremiah 11:16 situates the roar amid a covenant lawsuit. Israel’s “leafy olive tree” status is revoked because of idolatry. The roar heralds Babylon’s advance, yet ultimately issues from God Himself, revealing who truly directs history (Jeremiah 25:8-9).

Ezekiel 1:24 introduces the prophet’s inaugural vision. The four living creatures and the wheels present a mobile throne-chariot, and their collective sound dramatizes the LORD’s omnipresence. The roar therefore validates Ezekiel’s call to preach among exiles who wondered if God had abandoned Israel.

Application for Ministry and Worship

• Preaching: הֲמֻלָּה cautions against domesticated portraits of God. Sermons should preserve the tension between grace and holy dread, calling hearers to covenant fidelity.
• Corporate Worship: Music and liturgy may echo the imagery—e.g., readings preceding songs that celebrate God’s majesty (“The LORD thunders over the mighty waters,” Psalm 29:3).
• Pastoral Care: For believers assailed by cultural tumult, the word reassures that God’s roar is louder than any earthly chaos (Psalm 46:6).
• Mission: The image of divine tumult energizes proclamation. Just as the roar reached Jeremiah’s Judea and Ezekiel’s Babylon, so the gospel’s sound must carry “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

New Testament Echoes

Revelation 1:15 and Revelation 19:6 adopt similar language: “His voice was like the roar of many waters,” and “the roar of a great multitude.” John thereby links Jesus Christ to the Old Testament theophanies, affirming continuity between covenants.

Summary

הֲמֻלָּה encapsulates the thunderous self-disclosure of God, confronting sin, commissioning prophets, and assuring the church that the LORD still speaks with a roar that none can silence.

הֲמֻלָּ֖ה הֲמוּלָּ֣ה המולה המלה hă·mul·lāh hă·mūl·lāh hamulLah hămullāh hămūllāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts