עַלִּיז
exultant
Definition
The Hebrew word עַלִּיז (ʻallîyz) describes a state of exultant, triumphant, or jubilant rejoicing, often with a sense of pride or arrogance. It primarily conveys the idea of being joyous or exulting, but in several biblical contexts, this joy is portrayed as arrogant, insolent, or misplaced, leading to judgment. For example, in Isaiah 22:2, it describes the 'exultant' city of Jerusalem, whose joy is hollow and will be punished, while in Zephaniah 3:11, it refers to the 'haughty' people who will be removed from God's holy mountain.
Biblical Usage
This word appears seven times, exclusively in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Zephaniah. It is consistently used in contexts of judgment, where human pride and joyous celebration are condemned as fleeting or offensive to God. In Isaiah 13:3 and 24:8, it describes the 'exultant' ones whom God calls for judgment or whose revelry ceases. In Zephaniah 2:15, it characterizes the 'exultant' city of Nineveh, which will become a desolation. The usage pattern strongly associates the word with the downfall of the proud.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָלַז (ʻālaz, H5937), which means 'to exult,' 'rejoice,' or 'jump for joy.' The adjective form עַלִּיז intensifies this sense, describing someone or something that is characteristically exultant or jubilant. The semantic development includes a nuance of overconfidence or arrogance, as seen in its prophetic usage.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical theme that human pride and self-sufficient joy are ultimately futile and subject to God's judgment. It contrasts true, God-centered joy with the arrogant exultation of those who trust in their own strength or security (e.g., Isaiah 22:2, Zephaniah 3:11). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing the prophets' critique of superficial celebration and their call for humility before God.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, exultant joy was often expressed in communal celebrations, victories, and feasts. However, the prophets used this term to subvert that cultural understanding, declaring that such joy, when rooted in pride or rebellion against God, was morally and spiritually bankrupt. It reflects a tension between cultural expressions of triumph and the biblical demand for righteousness.
שָׂמֵחַ (śāmēaḥ, H8056) — a general term for being glad or joyful, without the negative connotation of arrogance. גִּיל (gîyl, H1524) — often means to rejoice, spin, or be glad, frequently used in contexts of holy joy. עָלַז (ʻālaz, H5937) — the root verb meaning to exult or rejoice, focusing on the action rather than the characteristic state.
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.
Full methodology & sources →