ha.lal describes acting madly or foolishly, including conduct marked by arrogant self-exaltation.

The occurrences chiefly depict people acting madly or foolishly, whether before a threatening sword or under the effects of drink and idols. Two Piel forms describe making counselors, judges, diviners, and soothsayers foolish, while Qal participles in the Psalms occur in settings of arrogance and elevated speech.

1. Acting madly or foolishly · dominant

   Hithpolel and Hithpael forms portray conduct described in the verse as mad or foolish: in 1 Samuel 21:14 the APB renders the man as “acting mad,” and in Jeremiah 25:16 it renders those before the sword as acting foolishly. In Jeremiah 50:38 and Jeremiah 51:7, plural Hithpael forms occur where the APB describes people as “driven mad” or behaving madly.

   1 Samuel 21:14Jeremiah 25:16Jeremiah 50:38Jeremiah 51:7
2. Arrogant or self-exalting people · common

   Qal active participles occur in Psalm 73:3, where the APB mentions “the arrogant,” and in Psalm 75:5, where the surrounding prohibition concerns lifting the horn high and speaking with an arrogant neck. Psalm 5:6 also has a plural Qal participle, though the APB’s wording there does not isolate the term's contribution.

   Psalm 5:6Psalm 73:3Psalm 75:5
3. Making others foolish · occasional

   Piel imperfect forms describe an action done to others: in Isaiah 44:25 the APB renders the clause “make fools of the soothsayers,” and in Job 12:17 it renders God as making judges foolish while leading counselors away.

   Isaiah 44:25Job 12:17

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term with varied wording, including “acting mad,” “act foolishly,” “driven mad,” and “behave madly”; Piel contexts are rendered as making others foolish. In the Psalm participles it uses “the arrogant” and an “arrogant neck,”.