← H913 H915 →

בָּדַל

𐤁𐤃𐤋

bâdal

H914 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To divide or separate, particularly to make a distinction or to set apart one thing, person, or group from another; to distinguish or differentiate between entities, often for purposes such as ritual, ethical, or social designation. The verb commonly denotes both physical and conceptual separation and can refer to acts of setting apart by human agency or divine action. It carries the sense of making or recognizing boundaries, whether spatial, ceremonial, or moral.

Semantic Range

to separate physically, to distinguish conceptually or ritually, to set apart for a specific purpose or status, to make a distinction between, to exclude or sever, to recognize or create boundaries

Root / Etymology

From the root בָּדַל (bdl), meaning 'to separate.' As a root, ב־ד־ל conveys the notion of dividing or setting apart and is productive in both verbal and nominal forms throughout Biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּדַל appears primarily in contexts where entities are actively separated, often by a deliberate act (God, a leader, or a person). Frequently used in priestly and ritual texts, such as in Leviticus, where it describes the ritual distinction of sacred from profane, clean from unclean, and Israelites from other peoples. In narrative and legal contexts, it can denote creation of boundaries (Gen 1:4, "God separated the light from the darkness"), ritual status (Lev 20:24-26), or social separation (Ezra 10:8, "to separate from the congregation"). Not synonymous with חָלַק (to divide, distribute), which centers on apportionment, nor with פָּרַד (to divide, separate), which generally lacks the nuance of deliberate distinction or selection. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), related nouns (e.g., מַבְדִּיל, separator/divider) accentuate ritual or legal boundaries. English translations often render בָּדַל by 'separate,' 'divide,' or 'distinguish,' but do not always communicate the nuance of purposeful setting apart beyond physical space.

Translation Consistency

primary "separate" 41 occurrences

'Separate' is the most natural, flexible, and frequently attested English equivalent (matches the majority of SILEX/P2 renderings such as 'separated'/'separate'). It covers physical division, conceptual or ritual distinction, and the idea of setting apart by human or divine action. Although 'set apart' is a common idiom for ritual uses, it is phrasal; 'separate' provides a single consistent base verb that can be inflected or phrased to convey the full semantic range required.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"separators" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.); (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

בדל (b-d-l) — separate, divide, distinguish, set apart

Root ב־ד־ל to separate, divide, distinguish, set apart
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3995 מִבְדָּלָה the set-apart divisions
H913 בְּדִיל separated-out metal
H915 בָּדָל separated piece
H916 בְּדֹלַח the bdellium resin

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H914-26 יַבְדִּיל֒ yavedil HVhi3ms he shall sever he will set apart he will separate 3
H914-08 לְ/הַבְדִּ֕יל lehavedil HR/Vhc to separate to set apart to separate 3
H914-16 וַ/יַּבְדֵּ֣ל vayavedel HC/Vhw3ms and he separated and he set apart and he separated 3
H914-06 הִבְדִּיל֩ hivedil HVhp3ms has separated he set apart he separated 2
H914-20 וַ/יִּבָּדְלוּ֩ vayibadelu HC/VNw3mp and they separated and they set themselves apart and they separated themselves 2
H914-01 הַ/נִּבְדָּ֛ל hanivedal HTd/VNsmsa who had separated the one set apart the one separated 2
H914-05 הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי hivedaleti HVhp1cs have-separated I set apart I separated 2
H914-13 וּֽ/לֲ/הַבְדִּ֔יל ulahavedil HC/R/Vhc and to divide and to set apart and to separate 2
H914-12 תַּבְדִּ֣יל tavedil HVhi2ms you shall separate you will set apart you shall separate 2
H914-11 נִבְדְּל֞וּ nivedelu HVNp3cp separated themselves were set apart were separated 2

Occurrences in Scripture

42 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H914-16 Genesis 1:4 וַ/יַּבְדֵּ֣ל vayavedel HC/Vhw3ms and separated and he set apart and he separated
H914-09 Genesis 1:6 מַבְדִּ֔יל mavedil HVhrmsa separating one who sets apart one that separates
H914-16 Genesis 1:7 וַ/יַּבְדֵּ֗ל vayavedel HC/Vhw3ms and he separated and he set apart and he separated
H914-08 Genesis 1:14 לְ/הַבְדִּ֕יל lehavedil HR/Vhc to separate to set apart to separate
H914-13 Genesis 1:18 וּֽ/לֲ/הַבְדִּ֔יל ulahavedil HC/R/Vhc and to divide and to set apart and to separate
H914-24 Exodus 26:33 וְ/הִבְדִּילָ֤ה vehivedilah HC/Vhq3fs and it shall separate and she set apart and it shall separate
H914-26 Leviticus 1:17 יַבְדִּיל֒ yavedil HVhi3ms shall divide he will set apart he will separate
H914-26 Leviticus 5:8 יַבְדִּֽיל yavedil HVhi3ms he shall sever he will set apart he will separate
H914-13 Leviticus 10:10 וּֽ/לֲ/הַבְדִּ֔יל ulahavedil HC/R/Vhc to distinguish and to set apart and to separate
H914-08 Leviticus 11:47 לְ/הַבְדִּ֕יל lehavedil HR/Vhc to distinguish to set apart to separate
← H913 Hebrew Lexicon H915 →