The Hebrew adjective alman describes someone in a widowed or forsaken state — desolate, bereft of their protector and companion. It is the masculine form of the more common almanah (widow). The root suggests being bound in silence and grief, cut off from former life and provision.
Widowhood in the ancient world was one of the most vulnerable social positions. Without a husband's legal standing and economic protection, widows faced severe hardship. The Law of Moses specifically commanded care for widows (Deuteronomy 10:18), and their mistreatment is condemned throughout the prophets as evidence of national apostasy. God Himself is their defender (Psalm 68:5). The New Testament continues this ethic: James defines pure religion partly as caring for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:27). God notices those whom society ignores.