Bible Lexicons

אוּלָם , אֻלָם (with Kametz impure), pl. אֻלַמִּים, root אוּל No. 3, prop. front; hence

(1)  vestibule, portico (Borhalle), 1 Kings 7:6, seq.; Ezekiel 40:7, sqq. Specially applied to the porch erected to the east of Solomon’s temple; Gr. ὁ πρόναος, 1 Kings 6:3; Joel 2:17 more fully אוּלָם יְהֹוָה, 2 Chronicles 15:8, 29:17. As to the height of this porch, which is said to have been a hundred and twenty cubits high, 2 Chronicles 3:4, see the treatise of A. Hirt (Der Tempel Salomo’s, Berlin, 1819, p.26).

(2) adv. prop. in front, hence opposite, and tropically strongly adversative particle; but, but indeed, οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλά, as well given by the LXX., Job 2:5, 5:8 13:3. More often also וְאוּלָם; LXX. οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλά, Genesis 48:19; Exodus 9:16; Job 1:11, 12:7 33:1. Where two adversative propositions follow each other, as in Germ. aber … und, in Hebrew an adversative particle is repeated אוּלָם … וְאוּלָם, Job 13:3, Job 13:4 comp. כִּי … וְכִי. Once, Job 17:10, it is written אֻלָם, where some copies incorrectly have אֻלָּם. It may be inquired by the learned, whether this particle may not, as well as אוּלַי, be regarded as compounded of אוּ = אוֹ whether, and לָם = ܠܡܳܙ, اَمْ not, in this sense-“but I do not know whether or not,” vielleicht aber. This conjecture certainly seems to be confirmed by the Syriac word ܙܘܽܠܺܡܳܙ, prob. to be read ܙܘܽܠܡܳܙ, which Castell. (Lex. Syr. p.16, ed. Mich.) explains, “ܕܰܠܡܳܙ forsan, verum.” I have not, however, found instances of it.

(3) [Ulam], pr.n.m.

(a) 1 Chronicles 7:16.

(b) 8:39, 40 1 Chronicles 8:40.