תַּרְעֵלָה
reeling
Definition
The Hebrew noun תַּרְעֵלָה (tarʻêlâh) describes a state of extreme disorientation, staggering, or reeling, often as a result of divine judgment or overwhelming circumstances. It conveys the physical and emotional sensation of being made to stumble or lose one's footing, as if intoxicated or struck by a blow. In Isaiah 51:17 and 51:22, it specifically refers to the 'cup of staggering'—a metaphor for God's wrath that causes nations to reel. In Psalm 60:3, the term depicts the national shaking and confusion God allowed Israel to experience.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in poetic and prophetic contexts to describe divinely induced disorientation. It appears three times: twice in Isaiah (51:17, 51:22) as part of the 'cup of staggering' imagery directed at Jerusalem and the nations, and once in Psalm 60:3 where David laments that God has made His people drink wine that led to reeling. In all instances, the reeling is a consequence of encountering God's judgment or allowing hardship.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָעַל (rāʿal, H7477), meaning 'to reel, shake, or tremble.' The noun form תַּרְעֵלָה intensifies this sense, indicating a state of profound shaking or staggering. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to trembling or quaking, reinforcing its core idea of unstable, involuntary motion.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the effect of God's judgment on individuals and nations. The 'cup of staggering' in Isaiah symbolizes the full measure of divine wrath that causes moral and spiritual disorientation. Understanding תַּרְעֵלָה enriches reading by highlighting how biblical authors used physical metaphors—like drunken staggering—to describe the soul's experience under God's corrective hand or in times of severe trial.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, staggering from wine was a common image for loss of control and vulnerability. The metaphor of drinking a cup of judgment (as in Isaiah) would resonate with audiences familiar with treaties where defeated enemies drank a symbolic cup of wrath. This cultural backdrop makes the biblical usage more potent, conveying total submission to an overpowering force.
רַעַל (raʿal, H7478) — a rarer noun also meaning 'reeling,' used in Nahum 2:4, possibly with a more immediate sense of shaking. בֶּהָלָה (behālâ, H928) — 'terror, sudden ruin,' focusing more on panic than physical staggering (Ezekiel 7:7). רְעָדָה (reʿādâ, H7461) — 'trembling, shaking,' often from fear or awe (Exodus 15:15).
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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