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נָבֵל

𐤍𐤁𐤋

nâbêl

H5034 verb

SILEX Entry

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נבל (Naval) — to wither, fade, become senseless, act disgracefully

Root נבל to wither, fade, 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 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5034-15 יִבּ֨וֹל yibol HVqi3ms will wither he will wither will wither 4
H5034-04 נָ֣בֵֽל navel HVqp3ms fades he withered will wither 3
H5034-05 נָֽבְלָה֙ navelah HVqp3fs fades she has withered has withered 2
H5034-07 נֹבֵ֖ל novel HVqrmsa fading withering one withering one 2
H5034-16 יִבֹּ֑לוּ yibolu HVqi3mp fade away they will wither they will wither 2
H5034-01 כִּ/נְבֹ֤ל kinevol HR/Vqc like withering like withering like withering 1
H5034-02 מְנַבֵּ֣ל menabel HVprmsa dishonors the one who disgraces dishonors 1
H5034-03 נָבַ֥לְתָּ navaleta HVqp2ms you have been foolish you have acted disgracefully you have acted disgracefully 1
H5034-06 נָבֹ֣ל navol HVqa you will surely wear out withering withering 1
H5034-08 נֹבֶ֣לֶת novelet HVqrfsc withering withering (feminine) withering 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5034-06 Exodus 18:18 נָבֹ֣ל navol HVqa you will surely wear out withering withering
H5034-10 Exodus 18:18 תִּבֹּ֔ל tibol HVqi2ms you will wear out you will wither you will wither
H5034-13 Deuteronomy 32:15 וַ/יְנַבֵּ֖ל vayenabel HC/Vpw3ms and scorned and he acted disgracefully and he acted disgracefully
H5034-16 2 Samuel 22:46 יִבֹּ֑לוּ yibolu HVqi3mp fade away they will wither they will wither
H5034-08 Isaiah 1:30 נֹבֶ֣לֶת novelet HVqrfsc withering withering (feminine) withering
H5034-05 Isaiah 24:4 נָֽבְלָה֙ navelah HVqp3fs fades she has withered has withered
H5034-05 Isaiah 24:4 נָבְלָ֖ה navelah-2 HVqp3fs fades she has withered has withered
H5034-07 Isaiah 28:1 נֹבֵ֖ל novel HVqrmsa fading withering one withering one
H5034-07 Isaiah 28:4 נֹבֵל֙ novel HVqrmsa of his withering one withering one
H5034-15 Isaiah 34:4 יִבּ֔וֹל yibol HVqi3ms will wither he will wither will wither
H5034-01 Isaiah 34:4 כִּ/נְבֹ֤ל kinevol HR/Vqc like withering like withering like withering
H5034-11 Isaiah 34:4 וּ/כְ/נֹבֶ֖לֶת ukhenovelet HC/R/Vqrfsa and like a falling fig withering one and like a withering one
H5034-04 Isaiah 40:7 נָ֣בֵֽל navel HVqp3ms withers he withered withers
H5034-04 Isaiah 40:8 נָ֣בֵֽל navel HVqp3ms fades he withered he withered
H5034-12 Isaiah 64:5 וַ/נָּ֤בֶל vanavel HC/Vqw1cp and we withered and we withered and we withered
H5034-04 Jeremiah 8:13 נָבֵ֔ל navel HVqp3ms will wither he withered will wither
H5034-09 Jeremiah 14:21 תְּנַבֵּ֖ל tenabel HVpj2ms dishonor may you disgrace may you disgrace
H5034-15 Ezekiel 47:12 יִבּ֨וֹל yibol HVqi3ms will wither he will wither will wither
H5034-02 Micah 7:6 מְנַבֵּ֣ל menabel HVprmsa dishonors the one who disgraces dishonors
H5034-14 Nahum 3:6 וְ/נִבַּלְתִּ֑י/ךְ venibaletikhe HC/Vpp1cs/Sp2fs and I will disgrace you I have disgraced you and I will disgrace you
H5034-15 Psalms 1:3 יִבּ֑וֹל yibol HVqi3ms wither he will wither will wither
H5034-16 Psalms 18:46 יִבֹּ֑לוּ yibolu HVqi3mp will wither they will wither they will wither
H5034-17 Psalms 37:2 יִבּוֹלֽוּ/ן yibolun HVqi3mp/Sn they shall wither they will wither they will wither
H5034-03 Proverbs 30:32 נָבַ֥לְתָּ navaleta HVqp2ms you have been foolish you have acted disgracefully you have acted disgracefully
H5034-15 Job 14:18 יִבּ֑וֹל yibol HVqi3ms crumbles he will wither it will wither
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