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אָבַל

𐤀𐤁𐤋

ʼâbal

H56 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אבל to mourn, to lament, to grieve

Definition

To mourn, grieve, or express ritual lamentation, particularly as a formal response to death or calamity. The verb denotes the actions and emotional state associated with bereavement, especially public or communal mourning ceremonies.

Semantic Range

to mourn, to bewail, to lament, to perform ritual mourning, to grieve, to enter a state of mourning

Root / Etymology

Root: אבל. The core meaning of the root is 'to mourn' or 'to lament.' The verb אָבַל is the simple Qal or Niphal form directly from this root, expressing the state or act of mourning, frequently, but not exclusively, in ritual context. Cognate forms in related Northwest Semitic languages often denote mourning or lamentation as well.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָבַל describes both individual and corporate acts of mourning, including the practices associated with loss of a family member, leader, or communal disaster. The word appears in both narrative and prophetic genres to describe customary mourning behaviors such as weeping, wearing sackcloth, or formal periods of ritual grief. In some cases (e.g., Genesis 37:34-35), it emphasizes extended emotional suffering, not simply formal ritual. The related term קָדַר (qadar) also covers aspects of sorrow or gloom but is more often associated with the appearance of mourning rather than the act itself. אָבַל is distinct from terms like סָפַד (sapad, 'to wail or lament in song') in that אָבַל emphasizes the experiential and ritual aspects of grief rather than performative lament. Usage persists from early patriarchal narratives to late prophetic books, reflecting continuity in Israelite mourning customs. Standard English translations using 'mourn,' 'lament,' or 'bewail' generally communicate the word's sense, though they may lack nuance regarding social and ritual implications. The term is not uniquely Israelite and parallels mourning vocabulary in neighboring ancient Near Eastern cultures.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to bewail; lament, mourn.

Bantu Hebrew

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

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Root Family

אבל (ʾ-b-l) — mourn (verbal root); as particle: affirmation, correction, contrast

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H57 אָבֵל mourning man
H5767 עַוָּל indeed, however
H59 אָבֵל Meadow
H60 אֵבֶל mourning-of
H61 אֲבָל but indeed

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H56-02 אָבְלָ֤ה avelah HVqp3fs mourns mourning 5
H56-16 וַ/יִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל vayiteabel HC/Vtw3ms and mourned and he went into mourning 4
H56-19 וְ/אָבְל֖וּ veavelu HC/Vqq3cp and mourn and they mourned 4
H56-11 תֶּאֱבַ֣ל teeval HVqi3fs will mourn she will mourn 4
H56-08 מִתְאַבֵּ֣ל miteabel HVtrmsa he was mourning mourning himself 3
H56-01 אָבַ֥ל aval HVqp3ms mourned but indeed 3
H56-20 יִתְאַבָּ֑ל yiteabal HVtj3ms mourn let him enter mourning 2
H56-17 וַ/יִּֽתְאַבְּל֥וּ vayiteabelu HC/Vtw3mp and mourned they entered mourning 2
H56-18 וְ/אָבַ֖ל veaval HC/Vqq3ms and mourn and he mourned 1
H56-10 מִֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים miteabelim HVtrmpa mourned the ones mourning 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H56-16 Genesis 37:34 וַ/יִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל vayiteabel HC/Vtw3ms mourned and he went into mourning
H56-15 Exodus 33:4 וַ/יִּתְאַבָּ֑לוּ vayiteabalu HC/Vtw3mp and they mourned they entered into mourning
H56-17 Numbers 14:39 וַ/יִּֽתְאַבְּל֥וּ vayiteabelu HC/Vtw3mp and mourned they entered mourning
H56-17 1 Samuel 6:19 וַ/יִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּ vayiteabelu HC/Vtw3mp and the people mourned they entered mourning
H56-06 1 Samuel 15:35 הִתְאַבֵּ֥ל hiteabel HVtp3ms grieved he entered into mourning
H56-08 1 Samuel 16:1 מִתְאַבֵּ֣ל miteabel HVtrmsa mourn mourning himself
H56-16 2 Samuel 13:37 וַ/יִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל vayiteabel HC/Vtw3ms And mourned and he went into mourning
H56-07 2 Samuel 14:2 הִֽתְאַבְּלִי hiteabeli HVtv2fs mourn Mourn yourself
H56-09 2 Samuel 14:2 מִתְאַבֶּ֖לֶת miteabelet HVtrfsa mourning the one mourning herself
H56-16 2 Samuel 19:2 וַ/יִּתְאַבֵּ֖ל vayiteabel HC/Vtw3ms and mourns and he went into mourning
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