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נָבֵל

𐤍𐤁𐤋

nâbêl

H5034 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נבל to wither, fade, become senseless, act disgracefully

Definition

To wither, decay, or lose vitality, particularly with reference to plants, but also extended metaphorically to persons or communities; by extension, to decline, fail, become senseless, or act foolishly. The word spans concrete senses (decaying vegetation, bodily decline) and metaphorical ones (moral or spiritual deterioration, loss of status or respect).

Semantic Range

to wither (esp. of plants), to fade, to lose strength or vitality, to fail, to faint, to act or become foolish, to behave disgracefully, to be despised, to be disgraced, to dishonor, to decline morally or physically

Root / Etymology

Root: נבל (N-B-L). The root carries the base idea of withering or fading away, especially of plants losing freshness or substance. From this primary sense, the term evolves to describe worthlessness, folly, or moral decay when applied to people or groups. The noun forms also yield words for 'fool' (נָבָל) and 'skin, wineskin' (as something collapsible or withered in shape).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָבֵל frequently describes withering or fading in plants (Isa 40:7-8, Ps 1:3-4), signaling loss of life or blessing. Metaphorically, it appears for human frailty (Ps 31:10 [31:11 Eng.]), communal or moral collapse, or spiritual decline (Isa 24:4). The term can describe disrespect, disgrace, or acting without sensibility or wisdom (e.g., 2 Sam 13:13). In post-exilic or later linguistic contexts, it is associated with gross folly or contempt. English translations usually render physical senses as 'wither' or 'fade', and metaphorical senses as 'foolish', 'disgraced', or 'to dishonor'. The overlap with נָבָל ('fool' as a person of base or senseless character) is significant, but נָבֵל as a verb stresses the process or action, not just the result or person.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace; disgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, [idiom] surely, make vile, wither.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נבל (n-b-l) — to wither, fade, lose vitality, become senseless, act disgracefully

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5035 נֶבֶל with a nebel-vessel
H5036 נָבָל the morally-withered ones
H5037 נָבָל like Nabal
H5038 נְבֵלָה in the decayed carcass of
H5039 נְבָלָה the disgraceful act

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5034-15 יִבּ֔וֹל yibol HVqi3ms will wither he will wither 4
H5034-04 נָ֣בֵֽל navel HVqp3ms fades he withered 3
H5034-07 נֹבֵ֖ל novel HVqrmsa fading withering one 2
H5034-05 נָֽבְלָה֙ navelah HVqp3fs fades she has withered 2
H5034-16 יִבֹּ֑לוּ yibolu HVqi3mp fade away they will wither 2
H5034-01 כִּ/נְבֹ֤ל kinevol HR/Vqc like withering like withering 1
H5034-12 וַ/נָּ֤בֶל vanavel HC/Vqw1cp and we withered and we withered 1
H5034-10 תִּבֹּ֔ל tibol HVqi2ms you will wear out you will wither 1
H5034-08 נֹבֶ֣לֶת novelet HVqrfsc withering withering (feminine) 1
H5034-03 נָבַ֥לְתָּ navaleta HVqp2ms you have been foolish you have acted disgracefully 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5034-06 Exodus 18:18 נָבֹ֣ל navol HVqa you will surely wear out withering
H5034-10 Exodus 18:18 תִּבֹּ֔ל tibol HVqi2ms you will wear out you will wither
H5034-13 Deuteronomy 32:15 וַ/יְנַבֵּ֖ל vayenabel HC/Vpw3ms and scorned and he acted disgracefully
H5034-16 2 Samuel 22:46 יִבֹּ֑לוּ yibolu HVqi3mp fade away they will wither
H5034-08 Isaiah 1:30 נֹבֶ֣לֶת novelet HVqrfsc withering withering (feminine)
H5034-05 Isaiah 24:4 נָֽבְלָה֙ navelah HVqp3fs fades she has withered
H5034-05 Isaiah 24:4 נָבְלָ֖ה navelah-2 HVqp3fs fades she has withered
H5034-07 Isaiah 28:1 נֹבֵ֖ל novel HVqrmsa fading withering one
H5034-07 Isaiah 28:4 נֹבֵל֙ novel HVqrmsa of his withering one
H5034-15 Isaiah 34:4 יִבּ֔וֹל yibol HVqi3ms will wither he will wither
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