In the Bible, the term "howl" is often used to describe a loud, mournful cry, typically associated with lamentation, distress, or impending judgment. This expression is found in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, primarily in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. The imagery of howling serves to convey the depth of sorrow and the intensity of the emotional response to divine judgment or calamity.

Old Testament Usage

1. Prophetic Lamentation: The prophets frequently use the term "howl" to depict the reaction of people facing God's judgment. In Isaiah 13:6 , the prophet declares, "Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty." Here, the call to howl is a response to the impending day of the Lord, a time characterized by divine wrath and destruction.

2. Judgment on Nations: The book of Jeremiah also employs the term in the context of judgment against nations. Jeremiah 25:34 states, "Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery." The shepherds and leaders are called to howl as a sign of the devastation that will befall them due to their unfaithfulness and the resulting divine punishment.

3. Desolation and Ruin: In Joel 1:11 , the prophet calls for the farmers to "be ashamed, you farmers, wail, you vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field has perished." The howling here is a response to the desolation brought about by a locust plague, symbolizing the broader theme of divine judgment and the call to repentance.

4. Symbol of Despair: The book of Micah uses the term to express personal and communal despair. Micah 1:8 says, "Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich." The prophet's personal lamentation reflects the broader societal anguish over sin and its consequences.

New Testament Context

While the specific term "howl" is less prevalent in the New Testament, the concept of lamentation and mourning continues. James 5:1 warns the rich, "Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you." This echoes the Old Testament prophetic tradition, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly wealth and the certainty of divine justice.

Theological Implications

The use of "howl" in the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the urgent need for repentance. The prophetic calls to howl are not merely expressions of despair but are intended to lead the people back to a right relationship with God. Through these expressions of lamentation, the Scriptures communicate the depth of God's sorrow over sin and His desire for His people to return to Him.1. (v. i.) To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.

2. (v. i.) To utter a sound expressive of distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.

3. (v. i.) To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.

4. (v. t.) To utter with outcry.

5. (n.) The protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound.

6. (n.) A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

5612. oruomai -- to roar, howl
... to roar, howl. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oruomai Phonetic Spelling:
(o-roo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I roar, howl Definition: I roar, howl, as a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5612.htm - 6k

3649. ololuzo -- to cry aloud
... to cry aloud. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ololuzo Phonetic Spelling:
(ol-ol-odd'-zo) Short Definition: I howl, lament loudly Definition: I howl ... howl. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3649.htm - 6k

3213. yalal -- to howl, make a howling
... yalal. 3214 . to howl, make a howling. Transliteration: yalal Phonetic Spelling:
(yaw-lal') Short Definition: wail. Word Origin a prim. ... make to howl, be howling ...
/hebrew/3213.htm - 6k

3214. yelel -- a howling
... Word Origin from yalal Definition a howling NASB Word Usage howling (1). a howl;
howling. From yalal; a howl; -howling. see HEBREW yalal. 3213, 3214. ...
/hebrew/3214.htm - 6k

6031b. anah -- to sing
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to sing NASB Word Usage cry (3), howl (1), sang
(2), sing (7), singing (1). 6031a, 6031b. anah. 6032 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6031b.htm - 5k

8437. tolal -- perhaps to be wasted
... Tilon. From yalal; causing to howl, ie An oppressor -- that wasted. see HEBREW
yalal. 8436, 8437. tolal. 8438 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8437.htm - 6k

1993. hamah -- to murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
... murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous NASB Word Usage aroused (1), become disturbed
(2), boisterous (4), brawler (1), disturbed (2), growl (1), howl (2), intones ...
/hebrew/1993.htm - 6k

The First Trumpet.
... men; for fir-trees, sometimes princes, (Isaiah 37:24.) sometimes kings, (Isaiah
14:8.) Who likewise paraphrases that passage of Zechariah 11:2. "Howl, fir-tree ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the first trumpet.htm

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... REVELLERS. Awake, ye drunkards, and weep, And howl, all ye drinkers of wine,
Because of the sweet wine; For it is cut off from your mouth! ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

Salvation to the Uttermost
... The rocks tell me, "Salvation is not in us;" the winds howl, but they howl not
salvation: the waves rush upon the shore, but among the wrecks which they wash up ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/salvation to the uttermost.htm

The Conflict Between Capital and Labor.
... "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/7 the conflict between capital.htm

The Condemnation which Condemns the Judges
... The veriest impostor asserting Messiahship had a right to have his claims examined;
but a howl of hypocritical horror is all which Christ's evoke. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture d/the condemnation which condemns the.htm

And ii.
... He makes the transition to this in ver.8, by means of the words: "On that account
I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Evolution of Language
... The howl of the dog, the neigh of the horse, the bleat of the lamb, the stamp of
the goat, and other signs are all readily understood by other animals. ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter v the evolution of.htm

The Eternal Name
... death-march of disordered waves; I might clothe all nature, not in words of green,
but in garments of sombre blackness; I would bid hurricanes howl the solemn ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the eternal name.htm

Seeking Richly Rewarded
... crafty; they understand how to waylay their game and leap upon them with a sudden
spring at unawares, and yet, with all their craftiness, they howl for hunger ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/seeking richly rewarded.htm

In Danger of Death
... But after a few moments he sprang up again, and first circling the room, came crouching
to the bed, howling as no mortal dog could howl, making ready to spring ...
/.../chapter viii in danger of.htm

Jackal (3 Occurrences)
... wolves," the King James Version "wild beasts of the islands"; compare 'i, plural
iyim, "island"; also 'ayyah, "a cry," 'awah, "to cry," "to howl"; Arabic `auwa ...
/j/jackal.htm - 15k

Wail (50 Occurrences)
... to gloom. (See NIV). James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your
miseries that are coming on you. (See NIV). Revelation 1 ...
/w/wail.htm - 21k

Kirhareseth (2 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Isaiah 16:7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for
the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken. ...
/k/kirhareseth.htm - 8k

Grape-cakes (4 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 16:7 Therefore howl doth Moab for Moab, all of it doth howl, For the
grape-cakes of Kir-Hareseth it meditateth, Surely they are smitten. (YLT). ...
/g/grape-cakes.htm - 7k

Meditateth (2 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 16:7 Therefore howl doth Moab for Moab, all of it doth howl, For the
grape-cakes of Kir-Hareseth it meditateth, Surely they are smitten. (YLT). ...
/m/meditateth.htm - 7k

Gird (44 Occurrences)
... 15:3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of
their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly. ...
/g/gird.htm - 20k

Tarshish (24 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! ... Isaiah 23:14 Howl,
you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste! ...
/t/tarshish.htm - 17k

Spoiled (69 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS YLT). Jeremiah 48:20 Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and
cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, (KJV JPS YLT). ...
/s/spoiled.htm - 27k

Foundations (49 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 16:7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the
foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken. ...
/f/foundations.htm - 21k

Lament (44 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar:
come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat ...
/l/lament.htm - 20k

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