Lexical Summary olel or olal: Child, Infant, Little One Original Word: עוֹלֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance babe, young child, infant, little one Or lolal {o-lawl'}; from uwl; a suckling -- babe, (young) child, infant, little one. see HEBREW uwl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a child NASB Translation babes (1), child (2), children (6), infants (2), little ones (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs עוֺלֵל, עוֺלָל noun masculineLamentations 2:19 child; — absolute עוֺלֵל 1 Samuel 15:3 +, עוֺלָל Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 9:20; usually plural עוֺלְלִים Psalm 8:3, עֹלְלִים Job 3:16, עוֺלָלִים Lamentations 4:4; Joel 2:16; construct עֹלְלֵי Lamentations 2:20; suffix עֹלָלַיִךְ Psalm 137:9, עֹלָלֶיהָ Micah 2:9 +, עֹלְלֵיהֶם 2 Kings 8:2 +, etc.; — child Micah 2:9; Lamentations 2:19,20; Lamentations 4:4; + יוֺנֵק (sometimes distinguished from men and women), 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 22:19; Psalm 8:3; Jeremiah 44:7; Lamentations 2:11; Joel 2:16, "" בַּחוּרִים Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 9:20; "" בָּנִים Psalm 17:14 (heirs of father); dashed in pieces (רטשׁ) by foe 2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 14:1; Nahum 3:10; Isaiah 13:16, compare Psalm 137:9 (נִמֵּץ); taken captive Lamentations 1:5; stillborn Job 3:16. Topical Lexicon Scope of the WordThe noun עוֹלֵל designates very young children—nursing infants through early toddlers—whose lives are still wholly dependent on the care of adults. The word carries an overtone of vulnerability and promise, making it a potent image for both blessing and judgment in the Old Testament. Distribution in Scripture The term appears twenty-one times, sprinkled across historical narrative, wisdom poetry, prophetic denunciation and lament. It surfaces in settings of warfare (1 Samuel 15:3; Nahum 3:10), social injustice (Micah 2:9), covenant curses (Jeremiah 6:11), communal lament (Lamentations 1–4), and exuberant worship (Psalm 8:2). This breadth underscores how the fate of the smallest Israelites was viewed as a touchstone for the nation’s spiritual health. Children in Israelite Society 1. Covenant Heirs In the patriarchal and Mosaic frameworks children embodied the future of the covenant promises. Harming them was tantamount to assaulting God’s unfolding redemptive plan. 2. Barometer of National Righteousness Blessing on offspring was a chief indicator of divine favor (Deuteronomy 28:4). Conversely, prophetic declarations of children’s suffering signaled God’s righteous indignation over persistent sin (Jeremiah 9:21). 3. Community Responsibility The Law, prophets, and psalms present the care of little ones as a collective duty extending beyond biological parents. Even warfare ethics were measured by how invaders treated infants (2 Kings 8:12; Isaiah 13:16). Prophetic and Poetic Usage • Praise rising from weakness “From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise” (Psalm 8:2). The least articulate members of society become conduits of divine glory, confounding the proud. • Lament reaching its climax The book of Lamentations layers image upon image of infants perishing for lack of food (Lamentations 2:11, 19; 4:4). In portraying the utter collapse of covenant life, Jeremiah shows that sin’s ravages cut deepest where life is most fragile. • Indictments of violence Prophets such as Hosea and Nahum evoke horrifying acts against infants to expose the brutality of enemy nations and the grievous consequences of Israel’s own rebellion (Hosea 13:16; Nahum 3:10). Theological Motifs 1. Strength Perfected in Weakness God routinely selects the powerless—represented here by suckling infants—to display His supremacy. Salvation history advances not through coercive might but through the faithful nurture of life (compare Psalm 8:2 with Matthew 21:16). 2. Continuity of Covenant Mercy References to infants serve as reminders that Yahweh’s promises extend generationally. The covenant community must therefore protect and disciple the young lest the chain of testimony be broken (Joel 2:16). 3. Judgment Proportionate to Sin When infants suffer in prophetic texts, it is never capricious; it is covenantal recompense aimed at driving the nation to repentance. The shocking imagery is intended to jolt hardened hearts. Ministry Application • Sanctity of Life From conception through early childhood, every human bears God’s image. The church mirrors God’s heart when it safeguards the unborn, rescues orphans, and resists any societal trend that endangers little ones. • Intergenerational Worship Congregations should anticipate and encourage the praise that “children and infants” render. Integrating children into corporate worship aligns with God’s design for praise that silences His foes. • Discipleship Priority Jesus’ own embrace of children (Mark 10:13-16) reinforces the Old Testament witness. Christian families and fellowships must invest disproportionate energy into the spiritual formation of their youngest members. Christological and Eschatological Reflections The Incarnation itself began with the Eternal Word becoming an infant, dignifying the very stage of life typified by עוֹלֵל. At His triumphal entry, children shouting “Hosanna” fulfilled Psalm 8:2, linking messianic victory to infant praise. Eschatologically, scenes of millennial peace include infants playing safely (Isaiah 11:8), signaling creation’s restoration where vulnerability is no longer threatened. Related Terms and Concepts • יֻלֵד—newborn Together these words sketch a comprehensive biblical theology of childhood, with עוֹלֵל occupying the central place for highlighting dependence, potential, and divine concern. Forms and Transliterations וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֣ם וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֥ם ועלליהם כְּ֝עֹלְלִ֗ים כעללים לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ לעולליהם׃ מְעוֹלֵ֔ל מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ מֵעוֹלֵ֖ל מעולל מעלל עֹ֝לָלַ֗יִךְ עֹֽלָלֶ֔יהָ עֹלְלֵיהֶ֣ם עֹלֲלֵ֣י עֹלָלֶ֛יהָ עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים ׀ עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים עֽוֹלָלִים֙ עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ עוֹלֵ֥ל עוֹלֵל֙ עוֹלָל֙ עוֹלָלֶ֛יהָ עולל עולליה עולליך עוללים עללי עלליה עלליהם עלליך ‘ō·lā·la·yiḵ ‘ō·lă·lê ‘ō·lā·le·hā ‘ō·lə·lê·hem ‘ō·w·lā·la·yiḵ ‘ō·w·lā·le·hā ‘ō·w·lā·lîm ‘ō·w·lāl ‘ō·w·lêl ‘ō·wl·lîm ‘ōlālayiḵ ‘ōlălê ‘ōlālehā ‘ōləlêhem ‘ōwlāl ‘ōwlālayiḵ ‘ōwlālehā ‘ōwlālîm ‘ōwlêl ‘ōwllîm kə‘ōləlîm kə·‘ō·lə·lîm keoleLim lə‘ōwllêhem lə·‘ō·wl·lê·hem leolleiHem mê‘ōlêl mê‘ōwlêl mə‘ōwlêl mê·‘ō·lêl mê·‘ō·w·lêl mə·‘ō·w·lêl meoLel oLal olaLayich olaLei olaLeiha olaLim oLel oleleiHem olLim veoleleiHem wə‘ōləlêhem wə·‘ō·lə·lê·hemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 15:3 HEB: עַד־ אִשָּׁ֗ה מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ וְעַד־ יוֹנֵ֔ק NAS: man and woman, child and infant, ox KJV: and woman, infant and suckling, INT: against and woman child against and infant 1 Samuel 22:19 2 Kings 8:12 Job 3:16 Psalm 8:2 Psalm 17:14 Psalm 137:9 Isaiah 3:12 Isaiah 13:16 Jeremiah 6:11 Jeremiah 9:21 Jeremiah 44:7 Lamentations 1:5 Lamentations 2:11 Lamentations 2:19 Lamentations 2:20 Lamentations 4:4 Hosea 13:16 Joel 2:16 Micah 2:9 Nahum 3:10 21 Occurrences |
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