1891. habal

Lexicon

habal: To act emptily, to become vain, to lead astray, to be futile

Original Word: הָבַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: habal
Pronunciation: hah-VAL
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-bal')
Definition: To act emptily, to become vain, to lead astray, to be futile
Meaning: to be vain, to lead astray

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be become, make vain

A primitive root; to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray -- be (become, make) vain.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
denominative verb from hebel
Definition
to act emptily, become vain
NASB Translation
act foolishly (1), became empty (1), became vain (1), leading you into futility (1), vainly hope (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

הָבַל verb denominative act emptily, become vain —

Qal Jeremiah 2:5 = 2 Kings 17:15 they went after vanity וַיֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ and became vain, Psalm 62:11 וּבְגָזֵל אַלתֶּֿהְבָּ֑לוּ do not become vain (i.e. be demoralized) by robbery; with cognate accusative Job 27:12 לָמָּה זֶה הֶבֶל תֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ why do ye become vain with vanity (i.e. shew yourselves utterly vain) ?

Hiph`il cause to become vain Jeremiah 23:16 (of false prophets) מַהְבִּלִים הֵמָּה אֶתְכֶם i.e. fill you with vain hopes.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1911 (ἐπιτίθημι, epitithēmi): To lay upon, to impose
• G1971 (ἐπιποθέω, epipotheō): To long for, to desire earnestly
• G2756 (κενός, kenos): Empty, vain, devoid of truth
• G3154 (ματαιότης, mataiotēs): Vanity, futility, emptiness

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, share thematic connections with הָבַל in their emphasis on emptiness, futility, and the deceptive nature of pursuits that are not grounded in divine truth.

Usage: The verb הָבַל (hābal) is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey the sense of vanity, emptiness, or futility. It often describes actions or pursuits that are ultimately meaningless or deceptive, leading individuals away from truth or righteousness.

Context: • The root הָבַל (hābal) appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, often in contexts that emphasize the transient or futile nature of human endeavors and the deceptive allure of idolatry. It is frequently associated with the concept of vanity, as seen in the repeated refrain of "vanity of vanities" in Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher reflects on the fleeting and insubstantial nature of worldly pursuits.
• In the prophetic literature, הָבַל is used to describe the futility of idol worship and the emptiness of false gods. For example, in Jeremiah 2:5, the prophet laments, "What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves."
• The term also appears in the context of moral and spiritual deception, where individuals are led astray by false teachings or misguided beliefs. This usage underscores the danger of departing from divine truth and the resulting spiritual emptiness.
• The concept of הָבַל is integral to the biblical worldview, which contrasts the fleeting nature of human endeavors with the enduring truth and faithfulness of God. It serves as a caution against placing trust in anything other than the divine, highlighting the ultimate futility of such pursuits.

Forms and Transliterations

וַיֶּהְבָּ֔לוּ וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃ ויהבלו ויהבלו׃ מַהְבִּלִ֥ים מהבלים תֶּ֫הְבָּ֥לוּ תֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃ תהבלו תהבלו׃ mah·bi·lîm mahbiLim mahbilîm teh·bā·lū tehBalu tehbālū vaiyehBalu way·yeh·bā·lū wayyehbālū

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 17:15
HEB: אַחֲרֵ֤י הַהֶ֙בֶל֙ וַיֶּהְבָּ֔לוּ וְאַחֲרֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙
NAS: vanity and became vain, and [went] after
KJV: vanity, and became vain, and went after
INT: and after vanity and became and after the nations

Job 27:12
HEB: זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל תֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃
NAS: [it]; Why then do you act foolishly?
KJV: [it]; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
INT: then altogether act

Psalm 62:10
HEB: וּבְגָזֵ֪ל אַל־ תֶּ֫הְבָּ֥לוּ חַ֤יִל ׀ כִּֽי־
NAS: in oppression And do not vainly hope in robbery;
KJV: not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery:
INT: robbery not vainly riches If

Jeremiah 2:5
HEB: אַחֲרֵ֥י הַהֶ֖בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃
NAS: after emptiness and became empty?
KJV: after vanity, and are become vain?
INT: after emptiness and became

Jeremiah 23:16
HEB: הַנִּבְּאִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם מַהְבִּלִ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה אֶתְכֶ֑ם
NAS: who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak
KJV: that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak
INT: of the prophets are prophesying are leading like A vision

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1891
5 Occurrences

mah·bi·lîm — 1 Occ.
teh·bā·lū — 2 Occ.
way·yeh·bā·lū — 2 Occ.