קָבָל
𐤒𐤁𐤋
qâbâl
H6905 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The presence or forefront of an object or person; used adverbially to mean 'before' or 'in front of'. In some contexts, it refers to something standing opposite, facing, or confronting another. The word often expresses spatial relations, specifically placement toward or in the sight of another object or individual, and occasionally may have the nuance of 'in the presence of' or 'before the face of.'
Semantic Range
in front of, before, opposite, in the presence of, facing, across from
Root / Etymology
קָבָל derives from the root קבל, which in its basic verbal sense means 'to receive' or 'to accept.' However, in this nominal/adverbial form, the connection is less direct; the word is related to the sense of opposition, as in facing or being opposite, akin to the related nominative form קֹבֶל (qóbel). Root semantics center around encountering or presenting oneself with regard to another, but the adverbial/noun form specializes in spatial or directional opposition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קָבָל is a term found primarily in later strata of Biblical Hebrew, notably in Aramaic-influenced or administrative texts, such as in Daniel and Ezra; this usage reflects increasing syntactic influence from Aramaic. In these contexts, קָבָל (qâbâl) indicates spatial arrangement—'in front of,' 'before,'—often in formal or administrative settings, and is not the typical everyday term for 'before' or 'in front of' in earlier biblical Hebrew (where לִפְנֵי, לְנֶגֶד, or מוּל are common). English translations frequently render it as 'before,' 'in front of,' or 'opposite,' but such translations may conceal the contextual nuance of direct opposition or formal presence. Usage of קָבָל is rare outside of exilic and post-exilic writings, indicating it as a borrowing or adaptation from Aramaic administrative language. Distinct from קֹבֶל (kobél, 'before, in front of') in its morphological form, they overlap significantly in contextual meaning, but קָבָל is more frequent in structured, formal settings than in narratives or poetic materials.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָבַל in the sense of opposite (see קֹבֶל); the presence, i.e. (adverbially) in front of; before.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קבל (q-b-l) — receive, accept, confront, stand opposite
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6901 | קָבַל | those causing to receive |
| H6902 | קְבַל | he accepted |
| H6903 | קְבֵל | in front of |
| H6904 | קֹבֶל | his battering-ram |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6905-01 |
קָֽבָלְ | qavale | HNcmsc |
before | front-of | before | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6905-01 |
2 Kings 15:10 | קָֽבָלְ | qavale | HNcmsc |
before | front-of | before |