The Hebrew verb tsalal describes a ringing, tingling, or quivering sensation or sound. It appears in 1 Samuel 3:11 and 2 Kings 21:12 in the phrase 'both ears shall tingle' — the physical response to hearing something shocking or horrifying. The word captures the visceral impact of devastating news.
The phrase 'both his ears shall tingle' (tsalanah shtey oznav) is used exclusively in contexts of divine judgment announced to Israel. When Samuel received this word about Eli's family, and when the prophets announced judgment on Jerusalem, the 'tingling ears' formula signaled something uniquely terrible — news so shocking that even the physical body recoils. This is not mere poetic exaggeration; it reflects the Hebrew understanding that encounters with God's word are embodied experiences. The word of God reaches the whole person — mind, heart, and even ears.