Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

I don't think there is no Hebrew root meaning "mighty". The single  
consonant Hebrew root L represents elevation or loftiness, as in the  
words EL, UL, OL, (LEH, LUL, etc.
The yod in AYAL איל is possibly a softened $ or C. Compare with the  
tree name E$EL of Gen. 21:33, and ACIYL, 'noble?' of Ex. 24:11.  
Possibly related to this is the ATAL- in the name ATAL-YAH.
The YAEL of Job. 39:1 is, in my opinion, a variant of $UAL, 'fox?' of  
Cant. 2:15.
It is a good idea to leave out any reference to "cognates".

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On May 10, 2011, at 10:02 AM, JimStinehart AT aol.com wrote:

> That word in Hebrew looks like all the other words of this type:  ) 
> YL.  But apparently scholars see that word as having a true  
> consonantal yod, and as being derived from a completely different  
> set of cognates than most all other Hebrew words that begin with )YL.