II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CISi.3,4.5.8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (DHMZMG 1875, 596), and in the Ethiopic albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹא οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition:
\ \ a.
\ \ \ (a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number; [Gen 15:1] and often אַלתִּֿירָא fear not! [Gen 22:12] אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח יָָֽדְךָ put not forth thy hand, [Gen 37:27] וְיָדֵנוּ אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ and let not our hand be upon him, [Gen 21:16] אַלאֶֿרְאֶה let me not look upon the death of the lad! [Ps 25:2] אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) [2Sam 13:25]; [Jer 18:18]; [Jonah 1:14]. In an imprecation: [Gen 49:4] אַלתּֿוֺתַר have not thou the excellency! [Ps 109:12]; [Job 3:4]; [Job 3:6]. Sometimes strengthened by נָא : [Gen 13:8]; [Gen 18:3] and elsewhere
\ \ \ (b) without a verb, (α) [2Sam 1:21] let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! [Isa 62:6]; [Ps 83:1]. (β) used absolutely, in deprecation [Gen 19:18]; [2Sam 13:16] (see below אוֺדָה) [2Kgs 3:13]; [2Kgs 4:16]; [2Kgs 6:27] (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr§ 152 iii; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew§ 355 b) [Ruth 1:13] אַל בְּנֹתַי Nay, my daughters, compare [Judg 19:23] (γ) after a preceding imperative [Amos 5:14]; [Joel 2:13]; [Prov 8:10], a jussive [Prov 27:2], an infinitive absolute [Prov 27:2]. (χ) in poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr§ 56-8); [Isa 2:9] וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), [Ps 41:3]; [Prov 3:25]; [Job 5:22]; [Ps 34:6] (but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Ew Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); [Ps 50:3] a may our God come וְאַלֿ יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene v[Ps 50:2]; [Ps 50:3] b-c) [Ps 121:3] (contrast v[Ps 121:4] לֹא) [Jer 46:6] +.
\ \ b. once [Prov 12:28] joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא 2 b) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway therecf אַלמָֿוֶת there is no-death! i.e. immortality.
\ \ c. once [Job 24:25] used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל to nought! —
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
License: Public domain document; formatting developed for use in https://marvel.bible by Eliran Wong.
Source: provided by Tim Morton, the developer of Bible Analyzer