אָלַח
to muddle, i.e. (figuratively and intransitive) to turn (morally) corrupt
Definition
The Hebrew verb אָלַח (ʼâlach) means to become corrupt, filthy, or morally defiled. It describes a state of moral decay or pollution, often in a spiritual or ethical sense. In its three biblical occurrences, it is used exclusively in poetic and wisdom literature to depict humanity's inherent sinfulness. For example, in Psalm 14:3 and Psalm 53:3, it parallels the idea of turning aside and becoming worthless, emphasizing universal corruption. In Job 15:16, Eliphaz uses it to argue that humans are inherently 'corrupt and filthy,' drinking iniquity like water.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears only three times, all in poetic contexts: twice in the Psalms (14:3; 53:3) and once in Job (15:16). It is used intransitively to describe a state of being—specifically, the moral corruption of humanity. In the Psalms, it appears in the refrain 'They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt (אָלַח)' as part of a lament over universal human sinfulness. In Job, Eliphaz employs it in his argument that humans are inherently impure and guilty before God. There is no transitive usage ('to corrupt something else') attested in the biblical text.
Etymology
אָלַח is a primitive root in Hebrew. Its core meaning relates to becoming foul, muddy, or polluted. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic and Aramaic, support meanings connected to decay, putrefaction, or becoming sour. The biblical usage represents a figurative extension from a physical sense of spoilage to a moral and spiritual condition of corruption.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it provides a stark diagnosis of the human condition apart from God. It underscores the doctrine of total depravity or universal sinfulness, as seen in its use in Psalms 14 and 53 (which Paul quotes in Romans 3:10-12). Understanding אָלַח enriches reading by highlighting the biblical view that sin is not merely individual acts but a pervasive state of moral filth and corruption that affects all people, necessitating divine grace for cleansing and redemption.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, purity and corruption were powerful concepts often tied to ritual and social order. The idea of becoming 'filthy' or 'corrupt' (אָלַח) would evoke strong imagery of something spoiled, polluted, and unfit for its intended purpose—much like spoiled food or contaminated water. This physical metaphor powerfully communicated the spiritual and moral degradation the biblical authors sought to describe.
שָׁחַת (shachath, H7843) — a more common verb for 'to spoil, ruin, or destroy'; often used for physical corruption or moral decay. עָוָה (ʻavah, H5753) — 'to bend, twist, pervert'; focuses on the act of turning aside into iniquity. טָמֵא (tame', H2930) — 'to be unclean, defiled'; often used in ritual/ceremonial contexts, whereas אָלַח is more ethical/moral.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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