What does מַעֲלָל (maʿălāl) mean in the Bible?
A deed is something done, and this Hebrew noun can describe conduct that is good or evil. The actor and the passage's evaluation must be identified.
Hebrew · H4611
מַעֲלָל
An act (good or bad)
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מַעֲלָלH4611
Pronunciationmaʿălāl
What does מַעֲלָל (maʿălāl) mean in the Bible?
A deed is something done, and this Hebrew noun can describe conduct that is good or evil. The actor and the passage's evaluation must be identified.
Reader summary
Full entry for מַעֲלָל (H4611) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4611?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include deeds (7), and deeds (6), of their deeds (3), their deeds (3), . . . (1).
Where does מַעֲלָל (maʿălāl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 28:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (17), Hosea (5), Psalms (5), Isaiah (3).
What This Word Actually Means
A deed is something done, and this Hebrew noun can describe conduct that is good or evil. The actor and the passage's evaluation must be identified. Jeremiah confronts the people's ways and deeds; Psalm 77 remembers the Lord's deeds in the midst of distress. The same noun does not make God's action and human wrongdoing morally equivalent.
Jeremiah 7:3 calls for amended conduct in an address that exposes confidence in the temple while people oppress their neighbors. Religious words cannot make those actions harmless. Proverbs 20:11 likewise attends to observable conduct even in a young person, but it should not be used to give a child an unchangeable moral label. Ezekiel 36:31 places the recollection of evil deeds after the Lord's promises of cleansing, a new heart, and His Spirit. That sequence calls for honest remembrance of wrongdoing within promised renewal, not a practice of inflicting shame or harm upon oneself.
source_lexiconPassage contextBook context
How the Bible Uses It
The noun names human conduct confronted by prophets and wisdom, and God's deeds remembered in a lament. Judgment, recognition, thanksgiving, and renewal depend on who has acted and how the passage evaluates the action.
- Jer.7.3
Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Correct your ways and deeds, and I will let you live in this place.
Amending ways and deeds is explained by the following demands for justice and an end to oppression and bloodshed. Confidence in the temple cannot substitute for the conduct the address requires.
- Prov.20.11
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even a young person's conduct makes purity and uprightness visible. The nearby question about who can claim a clean heart cautions against using observation to assign permanent superiority or hopelessness.
- Ps.77.11
I will remember the works of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.
The psalmist remembers the Lord's deeds while wrestling with distress and questions about mercy. Remembrance turns attention toward God's acts without requiring a pretense that the lament never occurred.
- Ezek.36.31
Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and abominations.
Remembering evil ways and deeds follows promises of gathering, cleansing, a new heart, and the Spirit. The severe language of remorse belongs within that promised renewal and is not an instruction to harm oneself.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdeeds7×Isaiah 1:16, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 23:22
and deeds6×Jeremiah 4:18, Jeremiah 7:3, Jeremiah 7:5, Jeremiah 18:11
of their deeds3×Jeremiah 26:3, Hosea 9:15, Micah 7:13
their deeds3×Jeremiah 11:18, Hosea 5:4, Hosea 7:2
. . .1×Jeremiah 21:14
according to his deeds1×Hosea 12:2
and acted1×Isaiah 3:8
and for their works1×Psalms 28:4
and wicked deeds1×Ezekiel 36:31
by his actions1×Proverbs 20:11
by their deeds1×Psalms 106:39
by what his deeds1×Jeremiah 17:10
for their deeds1×Hosea 4:9
in his dealings1×1 Samuel 25:3
of his deeds1×Jeremiah 32:19
of their labor1×Isaiah 3:10
of your deeds1×Jeremiah 23:2
the things He does1×Micah 2:7
the works1×Psalms 77:11
their evil practices1×Judges 2:19
they have done1×Micah 3:4
ways1×Nehemiah 9:35
with their deeds1×Psalms 106:29
works1×Psalms 78:7
you have committed1×Deuteronomy 28:20
your actions1×Jeremiah 35:15
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:20מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָtoyou have committedNoun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularJudges 2:19מִמַּ֣עַלְלֵיהֶ֔םtotheir evil practicesPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural1 Samuel 25:3מַעֲלָלִ֖יםtoin his dealingsNoun - masculine pluralNehemiah 9:35מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖םtowaysPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 28:4מַֽעַלְלֵ֫יהֶ֥םtoand for their worksNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 77:11מַֽעַלְלֵי־tothe worksNoun - masculine plural constructPsalms 78:7מַֽעַלְלֵי־toworksNoun - masculine plural constructPsalms 106:29בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑םtowith their deedsPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 106:39בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃toby their deedsPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralProverbs 20:11בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיוtoby his actionsPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 28:20
Aligned rows41
Books represented12
Deuteronomy1Judges11 Samuel1Nehemiah1Psalms5Proverbs1Isaiah3Jeremiah17Ezekiel1Hosea5Micah3Zechariah2
Source forms
מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם3xma·‘al·lê·ḵemIsaiah 1:16, Jeremiah 21:14, Jeremiah 23:2
מַֽעַלְלֵי־2xma·‘al·lê-Psalms 77:11, Psalms 78:7
מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֔ם2xma·‘al·lê·hemHosea 7:2, Hosea 9:15
מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃2xma·‘al·lê·hemJeremiah 11:18, Jeremiah 26:3
מַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ס2xma·‘al·lê·hemJeremiah 23:22, Micah 7:13
מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֔ם2xma·‘al·lê·ḵemJeremiah 25:5, Jeremiah 44:22
בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם1xbə·ma·‘al·lê·hemPsalms 106:29
בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃1xbə·ma·‘al·lê·hemPsalms 106:39
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural10xPsalms 28:4, Isaiah 3:10, Jeremiah 11:18, Jeremiah 23:22
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural9xIsaiah 1:16, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 7:5, Jeremiah 21:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural5xJeremiah 7:3, Jeremiah 18:11, Jeremiah 26:13, Ezekiel 36:31
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular3xJeremiah 17:10, Jeremiah 32:19, Micah 2:7
Noun - masculine plural construct2xPsalms 77:11, Psalms 78:7
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural2xPsalms 106:29, Psalms 106:39
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural2xJudges 2:19, Nehemiah 9:35
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular1xJeremiah 4:18
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Give those harmed room to describe conduct truthfully instead of protecting a religious institution's reassuring language.
- Call wrongdoing what it is while leaving room for tested change rather than assigning permanent labels to children.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that the word always names evil behavior; Psalm 77 uses it in remembrance of the Lord's deeds.
- Do not claim that remorse requires self-inflicted harm; Ezekiel locates remembrance within God's promised cleansing and renewal.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Concrete deed or work with moral weight—emphasizes observable actions rather than intentions or character
Source Gloss
an act (good or bad)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Concrete deed or work with moral weight—emphasizes observable actions rather than intentions or character
an act (good or bad) BDB: deed Usage: doing, endeavour, invention, work.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
observable actions or conduct that reveal character and nature
Showing 1 selected witness from 43 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Jeremiah 7:3 calls the people to amend their ways and deeds. The address does not leave the required change vague. It speaks of justice between people and the treatment of foreigners, the fatherless, and widows; it confronts innocent bloodshed and false worship. The repeated temple slogan cannot protect conduct that contradicts the Lord's instruction.
The pastoral question is therefore more concrete than whether a community uses approved religious language. How does it treat the people named in its care, and what happens when harmful conduct is exposed? This question should direct responsibility toward those acting wrongly rather than demanding silence from those harmed. It also should not turn into a claim that the right collection of deeds purchases salvation. Jeremiah is confronting false security through the actual conduct of God's people; the passage calls their religious confidence to account.
Anchor passage
Jer.7.3
Doctrinal connections
- Jeremiah 7:3-9 links amended deeds to justice for vulnerable neighbors and rejects the use of temple language as cover.
- Proverbs 20:9-11 puts attention to visible conduct near a searching question about the cleanliness of anyone's heart.
- Psalm 77:9-13 moves from anguished questions toward remembrance of God's deeds and the holiness of His way.
- Ezekiel 36:24-31 places recollection of evil after God's promises of cleansing, a new heart, and His Spirit.
- Psalm 77:11 distinguishes the Lord's remembered action from the human wrongdoing named by Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
- Ephesians 2:8-10 distinguishes salvation by grace from boasting in works while describing a life created for good works.
The noun can refer to an act or a pattern of conduct. It does not carry an automatic verdict of goodness or evil. Possessors, agents, and descriptions in the sentence determine whose deeds are in view and how they are evaluated.
From Old to New Testament
Ephesians 2:8-10 names salvation as God's gift and then describes good works as part of the life for which believers are created in Christ. This comparison helps keep Jeremiah's demand for changed conduct from becoming a scheme of earning salvation, while leaving the demand for actual justice fully audible.
Passage contextPastoral application