טָבַל
𐤈𐤁𐤋
ṭâbal
H2881 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dip, immerse, or submerge something (often partially) into a liquid, especially by motion of insertion, frequently with a ritual or practical purpose. The word can refer to the act of dipping a person, a body part, or an object, as well as immersing materials (such as hyssop or fabric) in a substance. It is used both for complete immersion and for partial dipping.
Semantic Range
to dip (an object) in a liquid, to immerse a body part or whole object, to plunge an item into a substance, to partially submerge, to ceremonially immerse, to stain or wet (by dipping)
Root / Etymology
Root: טבל. The root conveys the idea of causing something to enter or be placed into a liquid. The verbal form denotes the action of dipping or immersing, distinct from verbs meaning 'to sprinkle' or 'to wash'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, טָבַל is used in diverse contexts—ranging from ritual activities (such as the dipping of hyssop in blood for purification in Exodus and Leviticus) to practical, everyday events (e.g., dipping bread in wine or oil, or Joseph's brothers dipping his coat in blood). In later periods, especially Second Temple and rabbinic literature, the semantic emphasis shifts towards full-body immersion as a ritual act, but in biblical instances, the word primarily refers to dipping or immersing objects or parts of bodies, not necessarily total immersion of a person. There is a distinction between טָבַל and other ritual verbs (like זוּר, "to sprinkle," or רָחַץ, "to wash"), as טָבַל specifically denotes contact with liquid by insertion. Some English translations render טָבַל as 'baptize' in Hellenistic Greek contexts, but this is anachronistic for the Hebrew Bible. Ritual significance is usually determined by context, not by the verb alone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to dip, to immerse; dip, plunge.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טבל (ṭ-b-l) — to dip, to immerse, to submerge
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2881-06 |
וְ/טָבַ֧ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and shall dip | and he dipped | and he shall dip | 6 |
H2881-05 |
וַ/יִּטְבֹּ֤ל | vayitebol | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he dipped | and he dipped | and he dipped | 4 |
H2881-08 |
וְ/טֹבֵ֥ל | vetovel | HC/Vqrmsa |
and let him dip | and dipping | and dipping | 1 |
H2881-07 |
וְ/טָבַ֥לְתְּ | vetavalete | HC/Vqq2fs |
and dip | and you dipped | and you will dip | 1 |
H2881-02 |
תִּטְבְּלֵ֑/נִי | titebeleni | HVqi2ms/Sp1cs |
you will plunge me | you will dip me | you will plunge me | 1 |
H2881-03 |
וּ/טְבַלְתֶּם֮ | utevaletem | HC/Vqq2mp |
and dip it | and you dipped | and you shall dip | 1 |
H2881-01 |
נִטְבְּל֖וּ | nitebelu | HVNp3cp |
were-dipped | were immersed | were immersed | 1 |
H2881-04 |
וַ/יִּטְבְּל֥וּ | vayitebelu | HC/Vqw3mp |
they dipped | they dipped | and they dipped | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
16 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2881-04 |
Genesis 37:31 | וַ/יִּטְבְּל֥וּ | vayitebelu | HC/Vqw3mp |
they dipped | they dipped | and they dipped |
H2881-03 |
Exodus 12:22 | וּ/טְבַלְתֶּם֮ | utevaletem | HC/Vqq2mp |
and dip it | and you dipped | and you shall dip |
H2881-06 |
Leviticus 4:6 | וְ/טָבַ֧ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and he shall dip | and he dipped | and he shall dip |
H2881-06 |
Leviticus 4:17 | וְ/טָבַ֧ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and shall dip | and he dipped | and he dipped |
H2881-05 |
Leviticus 9:9 | וַ/יִּטְבֹּ֤ל | vayitebol | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he dipped | and he dipped | and he dipped |
H2881-06 |
Leviticus 14:6 | וְ/טָבַ֨ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and dip | and he dipped | and he dipped |
H2881-06 |
Leviticus 14:16 | וְ/טָבַ֤ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and shall dip | and he dipped | and he dipped |
H2881-06 |
Leviticus 14:51 | וְ/טָבַ֣ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and-he-shall-dip | and he dipped | and he shall dip |
H2881-06 |
Numbers 19:18 | וְ/טָבַ֣ל | vetaval | HC/Vqq3ms |
and dip | and he dipped | and he shall dip |
H2881-08 |
Deuteronomy 33:24 | וְ/טֹבֵ֥ל | vetovel | HC/Vqrmsa |
and let him dip | and dipping | and dipping |