אָלָה
alah
sworn curse that binds a covenant · noun, feminine
The word that gives a covenant its teeth. Not the blessing side — the sworn consequence you accept if you break your word.
לְעָבְרְךָ בִּבְרִית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּבְאָלָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כֹּרֵת עִמְּךָ הַיּוֹם
“"...for you to enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, and into his alah, which the LORD your God is cutting with you today." — Deuteronomy 29:11 (Hebrew) / 29:12 (English)”
When you last promised something serious, did you name a real cost if you failed?