Original Word: מַעֲלָל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma`alal
Pronunciation: mah-ah-LAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-al-awl')
KJV: doing, endeavour, invention, work
NASB: deeds, actions, practices, dealings, doings, works
Word Origin: [from H5953 (עָלַל - To act severely)]

1. an act (good or bad)

doing, endeavor, invention, work

From alal; an act (good or bad) -- doing, endeavour, invention, work.

see HEBREW alal

Word Origin
from alal
Definition
a deed, practice
NASB Translation
actions (2), dealings (1), deeds (34), doings (1), practices (2), works (1).

[מַעֲלָל]₄₁ noun masculine^{Nehemiah 9:35} deed, practice; — only plural מַעֲלָלִים 1 Samuel 25:3; construct מַעַלְלֵי Psalm 77:12; Psalm 78:1; suffix מַעֲלָלֶיךָ Deuteronomy 28:20, מַעֲלָלָיו Hosea 4:9 +, מַעַלְלֵיכֶם Isaiah 1:16 +, מַעַלְלֵיהֶם Isaiah 3:10 +, etc.; —

1 usually (especially Jeremiah 17 t.) bad practices of men, רַע מַעֲלָלִים 1 Samuel 25:3 he was evil in his practices; Judges 2:19 ("" דֶּרֶךְ), Hosea 5:5; Hosea 7:2; Isaiah 3:8; Jeremiah 11:18; Psalm 106:29; Psalm 106:39 ("" מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם); הָרָעִים ׳מ Nehemiah 9:35; ׳רֹעַ מ the evil of your (their, etc.) practices Hosea 9:15; Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 21:12 (suffix 3 masculine plural Kt, 2 masculine plural Qr), +; הָרָעִים ׳מ Zechariah 1:4 Qr (+ הָרָעִים ׳ד; Kt מעליליהם), אֲשֶׁר לֹא טוֺבִים ׳מ Ezekiel 36:31 (+ id.); ׳הֵרֵעוּ מ Micah 3:4; ׳מְּרִי מ, i.e. their consequences, Isaiah 3:10; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 32:19 (+ דֶּרֶךְ).

2 deeds of ׳י Psalm 77:12, of אֵל Psalm 78:7; compare Micah 2:7.

3 acts, in General, of youth Proverbs 20:11 ("" מָּעֳלוֺ).

[מעליל], מעליליהם Zechariah 1:4 Kt, see foregoing 1

מַעֲלָל

Semantic Range and Conceptual Significance

מַעֲלָל designates the outward “doings” that flow from the inward life. The term is morally charged: context decides whether the actions are praiseworthy (Proverbs 31:31) or reprehensible (Deuteronomy 28:20). Scripture therefore uses מַעֲלָל to expose the heart, shape covenant expectations, and announce reward or retribution.

Distribution in Scripture

Approximately forty-one occurrences are spread across:
• Torah (Deuteronomy 28:20)
• Former Prophets (1 Samuel 2:3)
• Wisdom Literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job)
• Major and Minor Prophets (notably Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Micah)

Themes in Wisdom Literature

1. Ethical Identity: “Even a child is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11). Character is discerned by consistent מַעֲלָל.
2. Contemplative Praise: The psalmists rehearse God’s mighty acts (Psalms 77:12; 103:7), modeling meditation on divine deeds as the antidote to fear and forgetfulness.
3. Righteous Reward: “Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the city gate” (Proverbs 31:31). Works can bring lasting honor when aligned with covenant wisdom.

Prophetic Use and Moral Accountability

The prophets employ מַעֲלָל to prosecute covenant breach:
• Jeremiah 17:10—“I, the LORD, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each man according to his way, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
• Jeremiah 21:14; 32:19 stress individualized recompense, confirming divine justice amid national judgment.
• Hosea 4:9; 12:2 connect Israel’s decline to accumulated deeds, exposing false religion divorced from ethical obedience.

Conversely, Isaiah 12:5 celebrates salvation history: “Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things; let this be known in all the earth.”

Historical Narratives

Hannah’s song warns the proud: “For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3). The monarchy that follows illustrates the principle—each king is assessed by his deeds (cf. 1 Kings 16:19; 2 Kings 21:11), anticipating final judgment.

Contrasts Between Wicked and Righteous Deeds

• Wicked: Deuteronomy 28:20; Psalm 28:4; Isaiah 59:18.
• Righteous: Psalm 106:2; Proverbs 31:31; Micah 7:15.

These contrasts reinforce the covenant polarity of blessing and curse and call God’s people to choose life-affirming obedience.

Theology of Works and Divine Judgment

מַעֲלָל never implies salvation by works; rather, deeds authenticate allegiance. Faith and obedience integrate: trust in the LORD produces righteous deeds, while unbelief issues in corrupt practices. The Old Testament thus anticipates the New Testament’s teaching that judgment is “according to deeds” (Romans 2:6), yet salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Christological and Eschatological Trajectory

The Messiah’s ministry is marked by “mighty deeds” (Acts 2:22) that fulfill the pattern of divine מַעֲלָל. His perfect obedience secures redemption, and His return will consummate Jeremiah’s promise of recompense (Revelation 22:12). Therefore מַעֲלָל points both backward to Yahweh’s historic acts and forward to the final audit of every life.

Ministry Application and Pastoral Exhortation

• Discipleship: Equip believers to examine conduct in light of Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5).
• Counseling: Use Jeremiah 17:10 to expose heart issues driving behavior.
• Mission: Celebrate and proclaim God’s mighty deeds (Psalm 96:3).
• Social Ethics: Encourage deeds of justice that mirror God’s character (Micah 6:8).

Homiletical Outline for Teaching

1. The Weight of Action (1 Samuel 2:3)
2. The Mirror of Deeds (Proverbs 20:11)
3. The Record in Heaven (Jeremiah 17:10)
4. The Redemption of Works (Ephesians 2:10)
5. The Final Reckoning (Revelation 22:12)

Selected Key References

Deuteronomy 28:20; 1 Samuel 2:3; Job 34:25; Psalm 28:4; Psalm 77:12; Psalm 106:2; Proverbs 20:11; Proverbs 24:12; Proverbs 24:29; Proverbs 31:31; Isaiah 12:5; Hosea 4:9; Hosea 12:2; Micah 7:15; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 32:19; Ezekiel 20:43; Ezekiel 36:31.

בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ במעלליהם במעלליהם׃ במעלליו וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ וּמַ֣עַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶם֙ וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ וכמעללינו ומעלליהם ומעלליו ומעלליך ומעלליכם ומעלליכם׃ כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו כמעלליו מִמַּ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם מַ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ מַֽעַלְלֵ֫יהֶ֥ם מַֽעַלְלֵי־ מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֑ם מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֗ם מַעֲלָלִ֖ים מַעֲלָלָ֑יו מַעֲלָלָֽיו׃ מַעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ ממעלליהם מעללי־ מעלליהם מעלליהם׃ מעלליו מעלליו׃ מעלליך מעלליכם מעלליכם׃ מעללים bə·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw bə·ma·‘al·lê·hem bəma‘ălālāw bəma‘allêhem Bemaalalav bemaalleiHem kə·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw kəma‘ălālāw kemaalaLav ma‘ălālāw ma‘ălāleḵā ma‘ălālîm ma‘allê- ma‘allêhem ma‘allêḵem ma·‘ă·lā·lāw ma·‘ă·lā·le·ḵā ma·‘ă·lā·lîm ma·‘al·lê- ma·‘al·lê·hem ma·‘al·lê·ḵem maalaLav maalaLeicha maalaLim maallei maalleiChem maalLeiHem mim·ma·‘al·lê·hem miMaalleiHem mimma‘allêhem ū·ḵə·ma·‘ă·lā·lê·nū ū·ma·‘ă·lā·la·yiḵ ū·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw ū·ma·‘al·lê·hem ū·ma·‘al·lê·ḵem ucheMaalaLeinu ūḵəma‘ălālênū ūma‘ălālāw ūma‘ălālayiḵ ūma‘allêhem ūma‘allêḵem umaalaLav uMaalaLayich umaalleiChem umaalleiHemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts