אַ֫יִל
ram
‘ram’ is one of 4 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
Number
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
- Singular
- One.
Every verse where H352 appears in the Book of 1 Samuel — 1 distinct verse. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
1 Samuel
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
At its core, איל (ʼayil) means “ram.” Carrying more than one sense, it rewards its full sense range. It turns up in 171 verses across 18 books, a common footprint. The word gravitates to Numbers (38%), then Ezekiel and Exodus. Scripture first uses it in Genesis 15:9. Dig into 171-verse concordance and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H352 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 171
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 171 distinct verses.
- 18 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 18 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #240
- by frequency
- Top 250 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 240 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 171 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 171 distinct verses.
- Torah (Pentateuch) 109 verses · 64%
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 44 verses · 26%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 18 verses · 11%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 5 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Ram 84×, Rams 56×, Posts 8×
- American Standard Version†: Ram 80×, Rams 61×, Posts 7×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Ram 87×, Rams 58×, Side pillars 12×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Ram 77×, Rams 60×, And 11×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H352 across 185† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 14 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H352 across 185† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 23 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H352 across 178† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 14 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 5 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H352 across 207† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 20 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 3 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
איל I
- 1. used as food Gn 31:38 (E) Dt 32:14 (cf. ram of sacrifice, infr. e.g. Ex 29:32 cf. Lv 8:31); as yielding wool 2 K 3:4; as tribute 2 Ch 17:11; as merchandise Ez 27:21; as gift Gn 32:15 (E); in sim. of leaping, skipping ψ 114:4 (הֶהָרִים רָקְדוּ כְּא׳) v 6; in Dn.’s vision, ram with two horns symbol. kings of Media and Persia Dn 8:3, 4, 6, 7(×4), 20; fig. of rich and powerful in Isr. Ez 34:17. e.g. Genesis 31:38
- 2. slain in ceremony of ratification of covenant betw. י׳ & Abr. Gn 15:9 (J); in Abr.’s sacrif. Gn 22:13(×2) (E); Balaam’s sacrif. Nu 23:1 + 5 times Nu 23 (JE); so in ritual (P), (a) in consecration ceremony of Aaron & his sons Ex 29:1 + 15 times Ex 29 (א׳ מִלֻּאִים v 22 cf. v 26, 27, 31) Lv 8:2 + 8 times Lv 8 (א׳ הַמִּלֻּאִים v 22, 29 א׳ הָעֹלָה v 18); (b) in guilt-offering (אָשָׁם) Lv 5:15, 16, 18, 25; 19:21, 22 cf. Ezr 10:19 & א׳ הַכִּפֻּרִים Nu 5:8; (c) burnt-offering (עֹלָה) Lv 9:2 & Nu 15:6, 11 & Ez 46:4, 5, 6, 7, 11, on day of atonement Lv 16:3, 5, Pentecost 23:18; (d) peace-offering (שְׁלָמִים) Lv 9:4, 18, 19; beginning of month Nu 28:11, 12, 14 cf. 29:2, 3; passover 28:19, 20 cf. Ez 45:23, 24; day of firstfruits Nu 28:27, 28; in 7th month 29:8 + 18 times Nu 29; (e) in law of Nazarite Nu 6:14, 17, 19; (f) in consecration of altar of tabernacle Nu 7:15 + 25 times Nu 7, cf. consecr. of Ezek.’s temple-altar Ez 43:23, 25; (g) more generally 1 S 15:22; Is 1:11 Mi 6:7 Jb 42:8 ψ 66:15, also Is 34:6; 60:7; at bringing ark to Jerus. 1 Ch 15:26; other occasions 29:21; 2 Ch 13:9; 29:21, 22, 32; Ezr 8:35; cf. fig. Je 51:40; Ez 39:18. e.g. Genesis 15:9
- 3. עֹרֹת אֵילִים מְאָדָּמִים rams’ skins dyed red, of covering of tabernacle Ex 25:5; 26:14 35:7, 23; 36:19 cf. 39:34 (all P). e.g. Exodus 25:5
איל II [m.] projecting pillar or pilaster
איל III leader, chief (= ram, as leader of flock? cf. Di Ex 15
איל IV terebinth (prob. as prominent, lofty tree, v. Di Gn 12
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. n.m. Gn 22:13 ram (as leader of flock, NHeb. & Aramaic id., Assyrian ailu DlW, Ph. איל, = אַיִל rather than אַיָּל, cf. CISi. p. 231)—אַיִל (אָ֑יִל) Gn 15:9 +; cstr. אֵיל Ex 29:22 +; pl. אֵילִים (אֵילִם, אֵלִים) Gn 32:15 +; cstr. אֵילֵי Gn 31:38 Is 60:7.—ram,
II. n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster—א׳ abs. 1 K 6:31 (but v. infr.) cstr. id. Ez 40:14 (but del. Co) 16 (Co better אֵילָיו); אֵיל 41:3, אֵל 40:48; pl. אֵילִים 40:14 +; אֵילִם 40:10; sf. אילו Kt 40:9 + 7 times; אלו Kt 40:29 + 2 times Qr (in all) אֵילָיו, אֵלָיו; אֵלֵיהֵמָֿה 40:16;—pilaster or projection in wall at each side of entrance (cf. BöProben, 302; NÄ 927), in Sol.’s temple 1 K 6:31 (BöNÄ 525 reads אֵילָם), in Ezek.’s temple Ez 40:9, 10 + 14 times Ez 40.41 + 40:14a Ew Hi Co אילם cf. 𝔊B; 40:38 read אילם so Sm Co cf. 𝔊; 40:14b Co del. א׳.
III. n.m. leader, chief (= ram, as leader of flock? cf. Di Ex 15:15 Ol§ 142 f LagBN 170 & v. Ez 34:17)—cstr. אֵל Ez 31:11; pl. cstr. אֵילֵי Ex 15:15 Ez 17:13; + 2 K 24:15 Qr (Kt אולי v. אוּל); אֵלֵי Ez 32:21 (del. Co, v. 𝔊).—leader, chief א׳ מוֹאָב Ex 15:15; א׳ הָאָרֶץ Ez 17:13 2 K 24:15 Qr; א׳ גּוֹיִם Ez 31:11 (אֵלִים Jb 41:17 v. sub i. -אלה; perhaps אֵלֵיהֶם Ez 31:14 but cf. infr. iv. איל & also אֶל Note 1).
IV. n.m. terebinth (prob. as prominent, lofty tree, v. Di Gn 12:6; 14:6)—cstr. אֵיל only n.pr. אֵיל פָּארָן vid. infr.; pl. אֵילִים Is 1:29; אֵלִים Is 57:5 cstr. אֵילֵי Is 61:3; sf. אֵלֵיהֶם Ez 31:14 (> del. Co vid. 𝔙 𝔄).—terebinth (cf. אֵלָה); as marking idol-shrines Is 1:29; 57:5 (so Che Di etc. > gods); fig. of ransomed ones of Zion אֵילֵי הַצֶּדֶק; 61:3; perhaps of haughty ones Ez 31:14.
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from אול (ʼûwl) (H193) — belly.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
*אֱיָל
- superiority, patronage, arbitration; v. Midr. Till. to Ps. LXXXVIII, 5. Midr. Till. to Ps. CIV, 29 (ref. to Is. LVII, 19 peace, peace &c.) אילולי (אֱיָילוֹ) אֱיָלוֹ של וכ׳ but for the peace-making arbitration of the Lord &c. e.g. Isaiah 57:19
אַיִל
- 1. ram (the strong). B. Kam. 65ᵇ if one stole טלה ונעשה א׳ a lamb and it grew to be a ram. Ib. א׳ בן יומו קרוי א׳ a ram one day old is called a ram (ayil is used in a general sense, irrespective of age). R. Hash. 16ᵃ; a. fr.—[*Pl. אֵלִים. Tosef. R. Hash. III (II), 3 (Var. יעלים).]—
- *2. א׳ קמצא [perh. אַיָּל q. v.] a species of locusts. Eduy. VIII, 4; Pes. 16ᵃ; Ab. Zar. 37ᵃ אייל ed. (Ms. M. אייול), v. דְּכֵי.
אַיָּל
- prob. fr. אול = עול, cmp. Var. lect. of אַיֶּלֶת II; cmp. אלל) [the climber], hart. Ḥull. 28ᵃ; a. e.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 93 distinct written forms H352 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 33 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H352, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Derived from this word
- איל ʼĕyâl H353 strength
- איל ʼayâl H354 stag
- אילם ʼêylâm H361 porch
- אילן ʼîylân H363 tree
- אלה ʼêlâh H424 terebinth
- אלון ʼêlôwn H436 oak
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- אילון ʼÊylôwn H356 Elon
- אילות ʼÊylôwth H359 Elath
- אילם ʼÊylim H362 Elim
- איל פארן ʼÊyl Pâʼrân H364 El-paran
- אל ʼêl H410 God
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 13 — not the complete family. 5 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 168 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 171 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 15:9
- Exodus 15:15
- Leviticus 5:15
- Numbers 5:8
- Deuteronomy 32:14
- 1 Samuel 15:22
- 1 Kings 6:31
- 2 Kings 3:4
- 1 Chronicles 15:26
- 2 Chronicles 13:9
- Ezra 8:35
- Job 42:8
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
