What does יָעַל (yāʿal) mean in the Bible?
יָעַל (yāʿal): Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Hebrew · H3276
יָעַל
Properly, to ascend ; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful , subjectively; benefited )
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יָעַלH3276
Pronunciationyāʿal
What does יָעַל (yāʿal) mean in the Bible?
יָעַל (yāʿal): Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Full entry for יָעַל (H3276) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3276?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include are worthless (2), avail (2), benefit (2), idols (2), at all (1).
Where does יָעַל (yāʿal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 12:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Jeremiah (7), Job (4), Proverbs (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itare worthless2×Proverbs 11:4, Isaiah 44:9
avail2×Jeremiah 7:8, Jeremiah 12:13
benefit2×Isaiah 30:5, Jeremiah 23:32
idols2×Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 2:11
at all1×Jeremiah 23:32
benefit at all1×Jeremiah 16:19
benefit do I gain1×Job 35:3
profit1×Proverbs 10:2
profit [you]1×1 Samuel 12:21
profit to them1×Isaiah 30:6
profit you1×Isaiah 57:12
purpose1×Job 15:3
succeed1×Isaiah 47:12
they profit1×Job 30:13
use1×Habakkuk 2:18
useless1×Isaiah 30:5
which profits him1×Isaiah 44:10
would we gain1×Job 21:15
you for your benefit1×Isaiah 48:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 12:21יוֹעִ֛ילוּtoprofit [you]Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 15:3יוֹעִ֥ילtopurposeVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 21:15נּ֝וֹעִ֗ילtowould we gainVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common pluralJob 30:13יֹעִ֑ילוּtothey profitVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 35:3אֹ֝עִ֗ילtobenefit do I gainVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularProverbs 10:2י֭וֹעִילוּtoprofitVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralProverbs 11:4יוֹעִ֣ילtoare worthlessVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 30:5יוֹעִ֣ילוּtouselessVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralIsaiah 30:5לְהוֹעִ֔ילtobenefitPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructIsaiah 30:6יוֹעִֽילוּ׃toprofit to themVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 12:21
Aligned rows23
Books represented6
1 Samuel1Job4Proverbs2Isaiah8Jeremiah7Habakkuk1
Source forms
הוֹעִֽיל׃2xhō·w·‘îlIsaiah 44:10, Jeremiah 7:8
לְהוֹעִ֔יל2xlə·hō·w·‘îlIsaiah 30:5, Isaiah 48:17
אֹ֝עִ֗יל1x’ō·‘îlJob 35:3
הוֹעִ֖יל1xhō·w·‘îlIsaiah 47:12
הוֹעִ֣יל1xhō·w·‘îlHabakkuk 2:18
וְהוֹעֵ֛יל1xwə·hō·w·‘êlJeremiah 23:32
יוֹעִ֥יל1xyō·w·‘îlJob 15:3
יוֹעִ֣יל1xyō·w·‘îlProverbs 11:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural9x1 Samuel 12:21, Job 30:13, Proverbs 10:2, Isaiah 30:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xJob 15:3, Proverbs 11:4, Jeremiah 2:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct2xIsaiah 30:5, Isaiah 48:17
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct2xIsaiah 47:12, Jeremiah 7:8
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xIsaiah 44:10, Habakkuk 2:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute1xJeremiah 23:32
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural1xJob 21:15
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular1xJob 35:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
Strong'sH3276
Lexical occurrences23 versesWord forms1 form19 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 48:17-19Source Gloss
properly, to ascend ; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful , subjectively; benefited )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Ascent imagery grounds a word for utility and benefit: gaining value through upward movement or elevation.
properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited) BDB: profit Usage: × at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms19
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action19×
Imperfect1Sam 12:21 · Isa 30:5 · Isa 30:6 · Isa 44:9 · Jer 2:8 · Jer 12:13 · Jer 23:32 · Job 30:13 · Prov 10:2 · Jer 2:11 · Job 15:3 · Prov 11:4 · Job 21:15 · Job 35:314×
Infinitive constructIsa 44:10 · Isa 47:12 · Jer 7:83×
PerfectHab 2:181×
Participle activeJer 16:191×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Benefit or advantage that comes from following God's commandments and instruction
Showing 1 selected witness from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָעַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.