Lexical Summary nabel: To fade, wither, fall away, become foolish Original Word: נָבֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance disgrace, dishounor, lightly esteem, come to nothing, make vile, witherA primitive root; to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace -- disgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, - ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, X surely, make vile, wither. Brown-Driver-Briggs II. נָבַל verb be senseless, foolish (Late Hebrew נְבָלָה, נַבְלוּת of immodesty; Arabic  = (per contra) be noble, distinguished,  also be gracious (Frey); Aramaic נְבַל Pa`el reject, despise, see ᵑ7 Nehemiah 3:6; Jeremiah 14:21; in derivatives as Late Hebrew); — Qal = be foolish Proverbs 30:32 is doubted by Frankenb Toy (where see various renderings), and others, who think text corrupt. Perfect2masculine singular נָבַלְתָּ Proverbs 30:32 if thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself (opposed to זַמּוֺתָ). Pi`el Perfect1singular suffix consecutive וְנִבַּלְתִּיךְ Nahum 3:6; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיְנַבֵּל Deuteronomy 32:15; 2masculine singular תְּנַבֵּל Jeremiah 14:21; Participle מִנַבֵּל Micah 7:6; — regard or treat as a נָבָל (q. v.), i.e. with contumely, with accusative: בֵּן מְנַבֵּל אָב Micah 7:6 son treateth father as a fool (with contumely); ׳וַיְנ צוּר Deuteronomy 32:15 and he treated with contumely the Rock of his salvation (i.e. ׳י; "" נטשִׁ); ׳י subject, Nahum 3:6 I will treat thee (Nineveh) with contumely ("" וְהִשְׂלַכְתִּ֫י צָלַיִךְ שִׁקֻּצִים); Jeremiah 14:21 do not treat with contumely the throne of thy glory ("" נאץ). נָבֵל verb sink or drop down, languish, wither and fall, fade (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian nabâlu, destroy, DlHWB 443 f. Arabic Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳נ Isaiah 40:7,8; Jeremiah 8:13; 3feminine singular נָָֽבְלָה Isaiah 24:4 (twice in verse); Imperfect3masculine singular יִבּוֺל Psalm 1:3 4t. (on form compare Ges§ 43, 3, R, 1, h Ol§ 246 e) 2 masculine singular תִּבֹּל Exodus 18:18; 3masculine plural יִבֹּלוּ 2 Samuel 22:46 = Psalm 18:46, יִבּוֺל֑וּן Psalm 37:2; 1plural וַנָּ֫בֶל Isaiah 64:5 (on form compare Di and Ol§ 236 e); Infinitive absolute נָבֹל Exodus 18:18; construct נְבֹל Isaiah 34:4; Participle נֹבֵל Isaiah 28:1,4; feminine נֹבֶ֫לָת absolute Isaiah 34:4; construct Isaiah 1:30; — 1 sink or drop down, from exhaustion נָבֹל תִּכֹּל Exodus 18:18 (Moses and Israel); from discouragement 2 Samuel 22:46 = Psalm 18:46 (of foreigners, foes of Israel); of mountain הַרנֹֿפֵל יִבּוֺל Job 14:18 (but נָפוֺל יִמּוֺל LagProph. Chald. Siegf Baer, after ᵐ5, so Bu [or יִבְלֶה]; Du נָבוֺל יִכּוֺל). 2 usually fall like a leaf, or flower wither and fall, fade: כְּאֵלָה נֹבֶ֫לֶת עֶָלהָ Isaiah 1:30 like an oak falling as to it leaves (simile of people of Jerusalem); the host of heaven יִבּוֺל כִּנְבֹל עָלֶה מגֶּפֶן וּכְנֹבֶלֶת מִתְּאֵנָה Isaiah 34:4; עָלֵהוּ ׳לֹא יִבּ Ezekiel 47:12 (trees in Ezekiel's vision), so figurative of good man Psalm 1:3; of Israel Jeremiah 8:13, וַנָּ֫בֶל כֶּעָלֶה Isaiah 64:5; also נָבֵל צִיץ Isaiah 40:7,8 (both "" יָבֵשׁ חָצִיר), צִיץ נֹבֵל Isaiah 28:1; compare Isaiah 28:4; of wicked ׳כְּיֶרֶק דֶּשֶׁא יִבּ Psalm 37:2: ("" כֶּחָצִיר יִמָּ֑לוּ); of devastated earth אָֽבְלָה נָָֽבְלָה הָאָרֶַץ אֻמְלְלָה נָָֽבְלָה תֵּבֵ֑ל Isaiah 24:4. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Imagery The verb paints a picture of life or strength draining away—leaves drooping, blossoms collapsing, courage melting. Scripture applies the term to plants, people, nations, even the heavens, underscoring the universal reach of decay outside the sustaining grace of God. Physical Withering in Creation Job 14:18 compares crumbling rock to the frailty of human life, while Isaiah repeatedly links the word to vegetation scorched by divine breath: “The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them” (Isaiah 40:7; cf. Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 28:1, 4; Isaiah 34:4). Such imagery confronts readers with the brevity of earthly beauty and vigor. Moral Decline and Apostasy Deuteronomy 32:15 shows Jeshurun’s prosperity turning to spiritual flabbiness; Jeremiah warns that unrepentant Judah will be like a fig tree whose leaves wither (Jeremiah 8:13). Isaiah laments, “We all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind” (Isaiah 64:6). Sin drains covenant life as surely as drought drains a garden. Divine Judgment on Nations and Powers Nations that resist the LORD lose heart (2 Samuel 22:46; Psalm 18:45). Nineveh will be humiliated (Nahum 3:6). Eschatologically, “all the stars of heaven will be dissolved… all their stars will wither” (Isaiah 34:4). The same verb that describes a wilting flower portrays the unraveling of empires and cosmic structures. Leadership Fatigue and Ministry Wisdom Exodus 18:18 warns Moses, “You will certainly wear yourselves out.” Delegation becomes a divine safeguard against burnout. Proverbs 30:32 adds that proud speech leads to one’s own withering. Leaders must draw strength from God and share burdens with others. Contrast of the Perishing with the Persevering Righteous The wicked fade “like grass” (Psalm 37:2), but the man delighting in the law of the LORD is “like a tree… whose leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3). Ezekiel’s river trees “will not wither… their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12). Abiding in God reverses the decay that marks life apart from Him. Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions “The earth mourns and withers” (Isaiah 24:4), yet “the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). The verb becomes a foil to magnify Scripture’s permanence and the ultimate renewal awaiting creation (cf. Revelation 22:2). Pastoral and Homiletic Applications 1. Human success and beauty are fleeting; only what is rooted in God’s truth endures. Through its twenty-five occurrences, נָבֵל consistently calls God’s people to humility, dependence, and unwavering trust in the unfading Word and promises of the LORD. Forms and Transliterations וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וַיְנַבֵּ֖ל וַנָּ֤בֶל וּכְנֹבֶ֖לֶת וינבל וכנבלת ונבל ונבלתיך יִבֹּ֑לוּ יִבּ֑וֹל יִבּ֔וֹל יִבּ֨וֹל יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ יבול יבולון׃ יבלו כִּנְבֹ֤ל כנבל מְנַבֵּ֣ל מנבל נָ֣בֵֽל נָֽבְלָה֙ נָבְלָ֖ה נָבֵ֔ל נָבַ֥לְתָּ נָבֹ֣ל נֹבֵ֖ל נֹבֵל֙ נֹבֶ֣לֶת נבל נבלה נבלת תְּנַבֵּ֖ל תִּבֹּ֔ל תבל תנבל kin·ḇōl kinḇōl kinVol mə·nab·bêl menabBel mənabbêl nā·ḇal·tā nā·ḇə·lāh nā·ḇêl nā·ḇōl nāḇaltā nāḇêl nāḇəlāh nāḇōl naValta Navel naveLah naVol nō·ḇe·leṯ nō·ḇêl nōḇêl nōḇeleṯ noVel noVelet tə·nab·bêl tenabBel tənabbêl tib·bōl tibBol tibbōl ū·ḵə·nō·ḇe·leṯ uchenoVelet ūḵənōḇeleṯ vanNavel vaynabBel venibbalTich wan·nā·ḇel wannāḇel way·nab·bêl waynabbêl wə·nib·bal·tîḵ wənibbaltîḵ yib·bō·lū yib·bō·w·lūn yib·bō·wl yibBol yibBolu yibbōlū yibboLun yibbōwl yibbōwlūnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 18:18 HEB: נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־ NAS: You will surely wear out, both KJV: Thou wilt surely wear away, INT: will surely wear both Exodus 18:18 Deuteronomy 32:15 2 Samuel 22:46 Job 14:18 Psalm 1:3 Psalm 18:45 Psalm 37:2 Proverbs 30:32 Isaiah 1:30 Isaiah 24:4 Isaiah 24:4 Isaiah 28:1 Isaiah 28:4 Isaiah 34:4 Isaiah 34:4 Isaiah 34:4 Isaiah 40:7 Isaiah 40:8 Isaiah 64:6 Jeremiah 8:13 Jeremiah 14:21 Ezekiel 47:12 Micah 7:6 Nahum 3:6 25 Occurrences |
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v, VIII. die; Aramaic נְבֵילָא corpse); —