אַלְמָנוּת
concrete, a widow; abstract, widowhood
Definition
The Hebrew noun אַלְמָנוּת (ʼalmânûwth) refers to the state or condition of being a widow (widowhood) and, by concrete extension, to a widow herself. In its abstract sense, it describes the social and legal status of a woman whose husband has died, as seen in Isaiah 54:4 where God promises Israel, 'you will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.' In its concrete sense, it directly denotes a widow, as when Tamar is described as sitting 'in the entrance of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife' in her widow's garments (Genesis 38:14, 19).
Biblical Usage
This word is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative (Genesis 38, 2 Samuel 20) and prophetic (Isaiah 54) books. In Genesis 38:14 and 19, it describes Tamar's specific state as a widow who has not been provided a levirate marriage. In 2 Samuel 20:3, it refers concretely to the ten concubines King David left in Jerusalem, who lived as widows in confinement. In Isaiah 54:4, it is used abstractly and metaphorically for the desolate condition of Jerusalem, which God promises to redeem.
Etymology
The word is a feminine abstract noun derived from the masculine noun אַלְמָן (ʼalmân, H488), meaning 'widower' or, more generally, 'a bereaved person.' It is built from a root (א-ל-ם) conveying the sense of being mute, silent, or bereft, likely reflecting the social vulnerability and loss of voice associated with widowhood in the ancient world.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on God's character as a defender of the vulnerable. Widows, along with orphans and foreigners, are a primary class of protected persons in Israelite law (e.g., Exodus 22:22). The metaphorical use in Isaiah 54:4 is profound, where God promises to end Israel's 'widowhood'—a state of shame, desolation, and covenant abandonment—and restore her as a beloved wife. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of passages about God's justice and covenantal faithfulness, especially His commitment to redeem those in a state of social and spiritual desolation.
In ancient Israelite society, a widow was in an extremely vulnerable economic and social position. Without a husband or adult son, she lacked legal protection and a reliable means of support. The cultural expectation was for the nearest male relative (the go'el or kinsman-redeemer) to provide for her, ideally through levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). The state of 'widowhood' (ʼalmânûth) was therefore one of potential poverty, dependency, and social shame, making God's commands to protect widows a crucial social justice issue.
אַלְמָנָה (ʼalmânâh, H490) — The more common, concrete term for 'widow' (over 50 occurrences). אַלְמָנוּת is the rarer abstract noun for the state or condition.
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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