a.lah denotes swearing, including placing an oath on someone or making a sworn commitment.

The attested uses concern swearing: people may be made to swear under an oath, or swearing may be named among wrongful speech and conduct. The same usage also appears where an oath is connected with a covenant and where a mother had sworn concerning stolen silver.

1. Swearing or placing someone under an oath · dominant

   In 1 Kings 8:31, the Hiphil infinitive construct occurs in the clause where an oath is laid on a man after he sins against his neighbor; the APB renders the outcome as making him swear before the altar. 1 Samuel 14:24 likewise has a Hiphil sequential imperfect in Saul's action toward the people, while Hosea 4:2 and Hosea 10:4 use Qal infinitive absolutes in lists of conduct that include swearing. Judges 17:2 recalls what the speaker's mother had done regarding the stolen silver, and 2 Chronicles 6:22 presents an oath brought before the altar.

   1 Kings 8:311 Samuel 14:242 Chronicles 6:22Hosea 10:4Hosea 4:2Judges 17:2

In the Anselm Paraphrase: The APB variously presents the usage with “oath,” “make him swear,” “made the people swear,” “sworn oaths,” and “Swearing.” Because the paraphrase is not word-aligned, these are presentations of their respective clauses rather than fixed English equivalents.