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מַבּוּל

𐤌𐤁𐤅𐤋

mabbûwl

H3999 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יבל to bring, carry, flow

Definition

A cataclysmic flood, specifically a deluge of overwhelming scale, most notably referring to the primeval flood narrative in Genesis (the so-called 'flood of Noah'). The term denotes a singular, devastating inundation rather than recurrent or seasonal river flooding. Usage is almost entirely confined to the description of the cosmic flood narrative, signifying an event of total destruction by water that eradicates existing life on earth.

Semantic Range

cataclysmic flood (the flood in Genesis 6–9); overwhelming deluge; by extension, archetypal disaster of destruction by water

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root יבל ('y-b-l'), which means 'to bring, carry, flow'—often with the sense of movement accompanied by water. מַבּוּל is a nominal formation, likely designating that which flows or overwhelms. The word itself is only attested in biblical Hebrew in reference to the singular cataclysmic flood.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מַבּוּל refers specifically to the one-time, overarching deluge recounted in Genesis 6–9, which covers the whole earth and stands distinct from regular term(s) for river flooding (e.g., שֶׁטֶף, נָהָר, or יָאוֹר). Later Second Temple and rabbinic literature also restrict the term to this unique cataclysmic event, reinforcing its role as a technical term for the primordial, global flood. In post-biblical Hebrew, מַבּוּל becomes a more general term for flood; however, in biblical usage, it is never applied to ordinary floods or inundations. Septuagint translators rendered it mostly as κατακλυσμός (cataclysmos), later giving rise to the English 'cataclysm.' The term does not feature in Israelite ritual or agricultural vocabulary related to annual flooding. Standard translations (e.g., 'flood') may obscure the specifically singular and cosmological character of מַבּוּל in the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָבַל in the sense of flowing; a deluge; flood.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יבל (y-b-l) — to bring, carry, flow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H180 אוּבָל the water-bearing stream
H2981 יְבוּל and her yield
H2986 יָבַל I will conduct them
H2987 יְבַל and to cause to bring
H2988 יָבָל streams of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3999-01 הַ/מַּבּ֥וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge 9
H3999-03 לְ/מַבּ֔וּל lemabul HR/Ncmsa a flood cataclysmic deluge 1
H3999-05 וְ/הַ/מַּבּ֣וּל vehamabul HC/Td/Ncmsa the flood and the cataclysmic deluge 1
H3999-04 מַבּ֖וּל mabul HNcmsa a flood cataclysmic deluge 1
H3999-02 לַ/מַּבּ֣וּל lamabul HRd/Ncmsa at-the-flood to the cataclysmic deluge 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3999-01 Genesis 6:17 הַ/מַּבּ֥וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-05 Genesis 7:6 וְ/הַ/מַּבּ֣וּל vehamabul HC/Td/Ncmsa the flood and the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 7:7 הַ/מַּבּֽוּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa of the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 7:10 הַ/מַּבּ֔וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa of the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 7:17 הַ/מַּבּ֛וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 9:11 הַ/מַּבּ֑וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-04 Genesis 9:11 מַבּ֖וּל mabul HNcmsa a flood cataclysmic deluge
H3999-03 Genesis 9:15 לְ/מַבּ֔וּל lemabul HR/Ncmsa a flood cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 9:28 הַ/מַּבּ֑וּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge
H3999-01 Genesis 10:1 הַ/מַּבּֽוּל hamabul HTd/Ncmsa the flood the cataclysmic deluge
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