אַלְמָנָה

n.f. widow (Mish. id., Assyrian almattu Dl in ZimBP 114)—א׳ Gn 38:11 +; no cstr.; pl. אַלְמָנוֹת Ex 22:23 +; pl. sf. אַלְמְנֹתָיו Jb 27:15, etc.—widow 1 K 17:20; אִשָּׁה אַ׳ 2 S 14:5 (‖ וַיָּ֫מָת אִישִׁי) 1 K 7:14; 11:26; 17:9, 10; Gn 38:11 (J; living in father’s house) cf. Lv 22:13 (H; ‖ גְּרוּשָׁה); 21:14 (H), where widow forbidden as wife of h. p., like גְּרוּשָׁה, חֲלָלָה, זֹנָה cf. Ez 44:22(×3) (id. of all priests, except widow of priest); Nu 30:10 (P; of widow’s vow, ‖ גְּרוּשָׁה); נְשֵׁיכֶם אַלְמָנוֹת = ye shall be slain Ex 22:23 (‖ בְּנֵיכֶם יְתֹמִים) cf. ψ 109:9 Je 15:8; 18:21 Ez 22:25, also La 5:3 (sim.); of those snatched away by pestilence אַלְמְנוֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה Jb 27:15; by sword, id., ψ 78:64; 𝔊 We read אַלְמָנוֹת חַיּוֹת 2 S 20:3 (v. אַלְמָנוּת infr.) of imprisoned concubines; fig. of Jerusalem La 1:1; Babylon Is 47:8; especially widow as helpless, exposed to oppression & harsh treatment (often ‖ יָתוֹם, & גֵּר); Is 1:23; 10:2 Jb 22:9; 24:3; 31:16 ψ 94:6 Mal 3:5; harshness forbidden, & care for them enjoined Ex 22:21 (E) Dt 14:29; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19, 20, 21; 26:12, 13; 27:19 Is 1:17 Je 7:6; 22:3 Zc 7:10, cf. Jb 29:13; under especially care of God Dt 10:18 Je 49:11 Pr 15:25 ψ 68:6; 146:9; once of severity of judgment in not sparing widow Is 9:16. (אַל׳ Is 13:22 vid. sub אַרְמוֹן; Ez 19:7 vid. ib.)