pa.al denotes doing or carrying out an action, including accomplishing deeds, practicing evil, and making something by labor.

The verb most often marks an action being carried out or accomplished, whether attributed to God, to a person, or to a named agent. Its participial forms frequently identify people by their ongoing practice of evil, while a small group of verses places the action in hands-on manufacture or shaping.

1. Carry out or accomplish an action · dominant

   Perfect and imperfect forms describe deeds brought about or undertaken: in Isaiah 41:4 the APB renders the question, "Who has accomplished this and brought it about," and in Isaiah 43:13 it renders the first-person action, "I work, and who can turn it back?" In Job 33:29, God is said to do "all these things," while Job 34:32 places the form in a speaker's admission, "if I have done wrong."

   Isaiah 41:4Isaiah 43:13Job 33:29Job 34:32Numbers 23:23Proverbs 30:20
2. Those engaged in evil or wrongdoing · common

   Qal active participles in construct repeatedly designate people in relation to evil or wickedness. In Micah 2:1 the APB renders those who "devise wickedness and work evil," and Psalm 28:3 places them beside the wicked who speak peace while harboring harm. Hosea 6:8 similarly describes Gilead as a city of people associated with evil and blood.

   Micah 2:1Hosea 6:8Psalm 28:3Psalm 101:8Proverbs 21:15Job 31:3
3. Labor on or fashion a material object · rare

   In Isaiah 44:12, Qal forms occur in the ironsmith's activity with an axe, coals, hammering, and shaping; the APB renders that he "works with an axe" and "works it with the strength of his arm." Isaiah 44:15 places the imperfect form amid burning wood, baking bread, and making an idol.

   Isaiah 44:12Isaiah 44:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB presents the action with wording such as "accomplished," "done," "works," and "work evil." These are verse-level renderings rather than word-by-word equivalents.