Original Word: אוּל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: uwl
Pronunciation: ool
Phonetic Spelling: (ool)
KJV: mighty, strength
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to twist, by implication, to be strong]

1. the body (as being rolled together)
2. (also) powerful

mighty, strength

From an unused root meaning to twist, i.e. (by implication) be strong; the body (as being rolled together); also powerful -- mighty, strength.

I. [אוּל] noun [masculine] body, belly; suffix אוּלָם (in contempt) Psalm 73:4 (literally their front, prominent part).

II. [אוּל] noun [masculine] leading man, noble; plural construct אוּלֵי הָאָרֶץ 2 Kings 24:15 Kt (Qr אֵילֵי see [III. איל]).

Hebrew Term and General Sense

אוּל is an infrequent noun that expresses robust capability—either the physical vigor of a person or the collective might of a social class. Each occurrence portrays strength that is admired by men yet ultimately shown to be transient before the purposes of God.

Occurrences in Scripture

2 Kings 24:15 – Babylon exiles “the leading men of the land.”

Psalm 73:4 – The wicked die without struggle; “their bodies are well-fed.”

Contextual Study

2 Kings 24:15 places אוּל in a geopolitical crisis. Nebuchadnezzar deliberately strips Judah of its societal strength, hastening national collapse. This fulfills prophetic warnings (Jeremiah 24) that trust in human power invites divine discipline.

Psalm 73:4 uses אוּל poetically for sleek, healthy bodies. Asaph’s complaint hinges on the apparent permanence of such prosperity. He later recognizes its fragility when viewed from the sanctuary (Psalm 73:17–19).

Historical Background

Ancient cultures prized robust leaders and soldiers. Babylon’s policy of deporting local elites removed the infrastructure of resistance. Conversely, Israel’s wisdom tradition challenged the notion that health and status prove righteousness, insisting that covenant fidelity, not visible power, secures blessing.

Theological Themes

1. Insufficiency of human might: Judah’s best march away; the wicked’s health cannot forestall judgment.
2. Divine sovereignty: God ordains both exile and ultimate reckoning, underscoring that strength is granted and withdrawn at His will.
3. Ethical stewardship: Scripture commends strength only when surrendered to God’s purposes (Psalm 20:7).
4. Reversal motif: Present dominance of the ungodly foreshadows the final humbling of every proud power (Isaiah 2:11–17).

Prophetic and Christological Echoes

Removal of Judah’s אוּל intensifies hope for a righteous king whose strength is unassailable (Isaiah 9:6; 11:1–5). Jesus fulfills this hope, conquering not by force but through the cross (Revelation 5:5), redefining true might as sacrificial love.

Ministry Reflections

Modern equivalents of oul—wealth, influence, health—can mislead churches into self-reliance. Effective ministry rests on spiritual strength in Christ (Ephesians 6:10), not on visible assets that can disappear overnight.

Practical Application

• Examine personal sources of security; shift trust from temporal strength to the Lord.
• When envying the wicked’s prosperity, recall Psalm 73’s sanctuary perspective.
• Pray that leaders wield their strength for righteous ends.
• Encourage the suffering: exile and weakness can serve God’s redemptive agenda.

Conclusion

Though appearing only twice, אוּל exposes the fleeting nature of human power and invites dependence on the Lord whose strength endures forever.

אֵילֵ֣י אוּלָֽם׃ אולם׃ אילי ’ê·lê ’êlê ’ū·lām ’ūlām eiLei uLamInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts