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שֹׁבֶל

𐤔𐤁𐤋

shôbel

H7640 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שבל to flow, to trail, to hang down

Definition

A trailing portion, typically a projecting or hanging appendage such as the long train of a garment or a tail-like extension; in poetic or prophetic texts, the lower part of a robe or regalia, and by extension the trailing hem or fringe. May also denote a lower limb, especially the leg, though this sense is rare and context-dependent.

Semantic Range

train of a robe, skirt, trailing garment hem, ornamental fringe, lower edge, leg (rare/peripheral sense)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root שבל, which likely carries the idea of flowing, trailing, or hanging down, though the root itself is not attested in use. The noun שֹׁבֶל predicated on this root describes something that extends downward or trails behind, such as the hem or ornamental train of a woman's or royal figure's robe.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֹׁבֶל occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with noted uses in poetic and prophetic texts (e.g., Isaiah 47:2, referring to the train of a garment as a sign of humiliation or exposure; Psalms 133:2, in reference to the trailing edge of the priestly garment). The term is often rendered 'skirt,' 'hem,' or 'train' in translations, but standard English versions do not always capture the specific cultural connotations associated with status, honor, or humiliation. Unlike the overlapping term שׁוּלָיִם (shulayim, hem or border), שֹׁבֶל typically refers to a more pronounced or elaborate extension, often associated with garments of distinction. There are rare instances of the word being understood as 'leg,' a more peripheral meaning that surfaces in some interpretations but is not the primary sense in most contexts. The Septuagint often translates this word with terms for edges or borders of garments. Over time, the semantic field remained closely tied to ceremonial or visually striking features of clothing, particularly robes or priestly attire.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to flow; a lady's train (as trailing after her); leg.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שבל (sh-b-l) — to flow, to trail, to hang down

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7635 שָׁבִיל trails of
H7641 שִׁבֹּל ears of
H7642 שַׁבְלוּל trail-sliding snail
H7732 שׁוֹבָל to Shobal

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7640-01 שֹׁ֛בֶל shovel HNcmsa skirt trailing robe-train 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7640-01 Isaiah 47:2 שֹׁ֛בֶל shovel HNcmsa skirt trailing robe-train
← H7639 Hebrew Lexicon H7641 →