תַּעֲלוּל
caprice (as a fit coming on), i.e. vexation; concretely a tyrant
Definition
The Hebrew noun תַּעֲלוּל (taʻălûwl) describes a troubling or vexing behavior, often characterized by capriciousness or willful mischief. In its two biblical occurrences, it carries distinct but related senses. In Isaiah 3:4, it refers to immature, childish, or tyrannical rule—'babes' who govern with arbitrary and oppressive whims. In Isaiah 66:4, the meaning shifts to 'delusions' or 'evil devices,' describing the self-chosen, vexing paths of those who reject God, which lead to their own punishment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice, both in the book of Isaiah, and highlights a theme of perverted or misguided behavior. In Isaiah 3:4, it describes the oppressive and immature leadership God will appoint as judgment, where 'children shall be their princes, and babes [תַּעֲלוּלִים] shall rule over them.' In Isaiah 66:4, it denotes the 'delusions' or 'evil devices' that rebellious people choose, which God will repay with calamity: 'I also will choose their delusions [תַּעֲלוּלֵיהֶם], and will bring their fears upon them.'
Etymology
Derived from the root עָלַל (ʻālal, H5953), which means 'to deal severely with,' 'to glean,' or 'to act in a wanton manner.' This root conveys a sense of handling or dealing with something, often with negative overtones of mischief or harm. תַּעֲלוּל thus carries the core idea of a vexing action or its result, stemming from willful or capricious dealing.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it illustrates God's response to human rebellion and failed leadership. In Isaiah 3:4, it is part of a judicial oracle where God hands His people over to incompetent, tyrannical rulers as a form of covenant curse for their sin. In Isaiah 66:4, it shows the principle of divine retribution, where God 'chooses' the very delusions people cling to, ensuring their schemes become their own punishment. It underscores the serious consequences of rejecting God's ways and the reality of His justice.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, stable, wise leadership was paramount for societal order. The idea of 'babes' or capricious tyrants ruling (Isaiah 3:4) would evoke a profound sense of chaos and divine abandonment, a worst-case scenario. The concept of 'delusions' (Isaiah 66:4) reflects a worldview where persistent, willful sin is not just a mistake but a chosen path that inevitably brings its own destructive consequences, seen as an active judgment from God.
תֹּהוּ (tohu, H8414) — 'chaos, formlessness'; more about emptiness than willful mischief. הֶבֶל (hevel, H1892) — 'vanity, breath'; transience and futility, not necessarily malicious intent. עָוֺן (ʻavon, H5771) — 'iniquity, guilt'; moral perversion and its consequences, a broader and heavier term.
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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