יַלְדָּה
a lass
Definition
The Hebrew noun יַלְדָּה (yaldâh) refers to a young girl or lass, specifically a female child or young woman. It is the feminine counterpart to יֶלֶד (yeled), meaning 'boy' or 'child.' In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes a young female, often one of marriageable age. In Genesis 34:4, it describes Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, as a 'young woman' whom Shechem sees and desires. In Joel 3:3, it appears in a prophetic judgment against nations who have traded a 'girl' for wine. Zechariah 8:5 uses it in a vision of restoration, picturing the streets of Jerusalem filled with playing boys and girls.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative (Genesis), prophetic judgment (Joel), and prophetic restoration (Zechariah) contexts. In Genesis 34:4, it identifies Dinah in a story of violation and conflict. In Joel 3:3, it is used generically for a young female who is treated as a commodity of war, highlighting injustice. In Zechariah 8:5, it contributes to an idyllic portrait of future peace and community vitality, paired with boys playing in the streets. The usage shifts from a specific individual to a symbolic figure of victimization, and finally to a symbol of blessed normalcy.
Etymology
יַלְדָּה (yaldâh) is the feminine form of the common masculine noun יֶלֶד (yeled, H3206), meaning 'boy,' 'child,' or 'son.' It is derived from the root ילד (y-l-d), which carries the core meaning of 'to bear,' 'to bring forth,' or 'to beget.' This root is the source for many words related to birth and offspring. As a feminine derivative, yaldâh specifically denotes the female product of that bearing—a girl or young woman.
Semantic Range
While a common noun, יַלְדָּה contributes to significant theological themes in its specific contexts. In Joel 3:3, its use underscores the severity of divine judgment against nations that dehumanize and commodify the vulnerable. In Zechariah 8:5, it becomes part of a powerful eschatological image of God's restored community, where the safety and playful presence of children (both boys and girls) signal shalom, covenant blessing, and the reversal of exile's curses. Understanding this Hebrew term helps readers see how even an ordinary word for 'girl' can be woven into narratives of human sin, prophetic warning, and God's ultimate promise of renewal.
In ancient Israelite society, a יַלְדָּה was a female in the stage between infancy and full adulthood, often of marriageable age. Her social role and vulnerability are reflected in the biblical texts. In Genesis 34, Dinah's status as a yaldâh places her within the complex social codes of family honor, marriage, and retaliation. The reference in Joel to selling a yaldâh for wine reflects the brutal realities of warfare, where young women were often taken as plunder or slaves. The positive vision in Zechariah, where girls play freely in public streets, portrays an ideal of security and social wholeness that contrasted with the dangers and constraints they often faced.
נַעֲרָה (naʿărâh, H5291) — a more common term for a young woman, often a maiden or female servant; can imply adolescence to young adulthood. בְּתוּלָה (bᵉthûlâh, H1330) — specifically a virgin or maiden, emphasizing sexual purity and often marital eligibility. יַלְדָּה is a more general term for a female child or young girl.
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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