o.lel denotes very young children, especially those portrayed as vulnerable dependents in family, civic, and calamity scenes.

The occurrences consistently identify very young children. They appear among households and public assemblies, as dependents needing food or care, and especially as vulnerable victims in accounts of violence, hunger, captivity, and loss.

1. Very young children as vulnerable dependents · dominant

   The noun identifies young children in settings that mark their dependence and exposure: in Joel 2:16 the APB renders a gathered group as including “infants and those who suckle at the breast,” and in Lamentations 4:4 it portrays them asking for food without anyone giving it. In 1 Samuel 15:3, Isaiah 13:16, Lamentations 1:5, and Nahum 3:10, the same noun occurs among those killed, taken captive, or otherwise harmed in catastrophe.

   Joel 2:16Lamentations 4:41 Samuel 15:3Isaiah 13:16Lamentations 1:5Nahum 3:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the supplied verses, the APB commonly presents the noun with “infant” or “infants,” while some clauses use “children” or “offspring.” These English expressions confirm the scenes' presentation rather than establish separate lexical senses.