57. abel

Lexicon

abel: Mourning, lamentation

Original Word: אָבֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: abel
Pronunciation: ah-vel
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale')
Definition: Mourning, lamentation
Meaning: lamenting

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

mourner,

From 'abal; lamenting -- mourn(-er, -ing).

see HEBREW 'abal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from abal
Definition
mourning
NASB Translation
mourn (2), mourners (2), mourning (3), one who sorrows (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. אָבֵל adjective mourning — ׳א Genesis 37:35; Esther 6:12; construct אֲבֶלֿ Psalm 35:14; אֲבֵלִים Job 29:25; Isaiah 61:2 etc.; — for dead Genesis 37:35, calamity Esther 6:12, compare figurative Lamentations 1:4 (predicate, inanimate subject), elsewhere as substantive mourner; singular Psalm 35:14 (construct) for dead ("" קדר); plural Job 29:25 absolute; for calamity Isaiah 57:18; Isaiah 61:2,3(where mourners for Zion, or of Zion, see Di).

II. אבל (perhaps grow green, compare grass; Lag^{BN 45} proposes withstand, hence אָבֵל as withstanding scorching sun (protected by trees, springs, etc.), hence also (Lag) camel). Etymologogical conjectures very dubious; connection (Lag.) of withstand, with herbage, forage (sometimes dry) improbable, and of latter with herd of camels obscure; √ meaning grow green unattested; Syriac , , Talmud יַבְלָא, Punic ιεβαλ, 'grass,' apparently = a specific kind of fodder, ἄγρωστις, see Löw^{No. 141} (GFM, privately).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the root אָבַל (aval), which means "to mourn" or "to lament."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G93 (adokimos): Often translated as "disqualified" or "reprobate," this term does not directly correspond to mourning but reflects a state of being rejected or unapproved.
- G94 (adokimazo): Meaning "to disapprove" or "to reject," this term is related to judgment rather than mourning.
- G458 (anomia): Translated as "lawlessness" or "iniquity," this term denotes a state of moral or legal transgression, not directly related to mourning.
- G1342 (dikaios): Meaning "righteous" or "just," this term is unrelated to mourning but rather describes a state of moral uprightness.
- G3076 (lupeo): This term means "to grieve" or "to be sorrowful," closely aligning with the concept of mourning.
- G3900 (paraptoma): Translated as "trespass" or "offense," this term refers to a moral failing rather than mourning.
- G4835 (sumphero): Meaning "to bring together" or "to be profitable," this term is unrelated to mourning.

The Greek term G3076 (lupeo) is the most closely related to the Hebrew אָבֵל, as it captures the essence of grief and sorrow, reflecting the emotional state of mourning.

Usage: The word אָבֵל appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible, often describing individuals or groups in a state of mourning. It is used to convey the deep emotional response to loss or tragedy.

Context: The Hebrew term אָבֵל (abel) is a significant word in the Old Testament, capturing the profound human experience of grief and mourning. It is derived from the root אָבַל (aval), which means "to mourn" or "to lament." This word is used to describe the emotional and often ritualistic response to death or disaster.

In the Hebrew Bible, mourning is a deeply ingrained cultural and religious practice, often involving specific rites and expressions of sorrow. The term אָבֵל is used in various passages to depict individuals or communities in mourning. For example, in Genesis 37:34, Jacob mourns for his son Joseph, tearing his clothes and donning sackcloth. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 1:12, David and his men mourn for Saul and Jonathan, fasting and weeping.

Mourning in the biblical context often includes physical expressions such as wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes, fasting, and weeping. These acts are outward manifestations of inner grief and are sometimes accompanied by communal lamentation. The use of אָבֵל underscores the depth of sorrow experienced by those who mourn, reflecting a universal human response to loss.

The concept of mourning is not only personal but also communal, as seen in instances where entire communities lament over national tragedies or divine judgment. The prophets frequently call the people to mourn as a sign of repentance and humility before God.

Forms and Transliterations

אֲבֵל֗וֹת אֲבֵלִ֣ים אֲבֵלִֽים׃ אָבֵ֖ל אבל אבלות אבלים אבלים׃ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃ ולאבליו׃ כַּאֲבֶל־ כאבל־ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י לאבלי ’ă·ḇê·lîm ’ă·ḇê·lō·wṯ ’ā·ḇêl ’āḇêl ’ăḇêlîm ’ăḇêlōwṯ aVel aveLim aveLot ka’ăḇel- ka·’ă·ḇel- kaavel la’ăḇêlê la·’ă·ḇê·lê laaveLei velaaveLav wə·la·’ă·ḇê·lāw wəla’ăḇêlāw

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 37:35
HEB: אֶל־ בְּנִ֛י אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ
NAS: to Sheol in mourning for my son.
KJV: unto my son mourning. Thus his father
INT: about my son mourning to Sheol wept

Esther 6:12
HEB: אֶל־ בֵּית֔וֹ אָבֵ֖ל וַחֲפ֥וּי רֹֽאשׁ׃
NAS: home, mourning, with [his] head
KJV: to his house mourning, and having his head
INT: about home mourning covered with head

Job 29:25
HEB: בַּגְּד֑וּד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲבֵלִ֣ים יְנַחֵֽם׃
NAS: As one who comforted the mourners.
KJV: as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
INT: the troops after mourners comforted

Psalm 35:14
HEB: לִ֭י הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי כַּאֲבֶל־ אֵ֝֗ם קֹדֵ֥ר
NAS: mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
KJV: heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.
INT: brother went one A mother mourning

Isaiah 57:18
HEB: נִֽחֻמִ֛ים ל֖וֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃
NAS: comfort to him and to his mourners,
KJV: comforts unto him and to his mourners.
INT: and restore comfort his mourners

Isaiah 61:2
HEB: לְנַחֵ֖ם כָּל־ אֲבֵלִֽים׃
NAS: To comfort all who mourn,
KJV: of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
INT: to comfort all mourn

Isaiah 61:3
HEB: לָשׂ֣וּם ׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩
NAS: To grant those who mourn [in] Zion,
KJV: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
INT: to grant mourn Zion Giving

Lamentations 1:4
HEB: דַּרְכֵ֨י צִיּ֜וֹן אֲבֵל֗וֹת מִבְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣י
NAS: of Zion are in mourning Because
KJV: of Zion do mourn, because none come
INT: the roads of Zion mourning no comes

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 57
8 Occurrences

’ā·ḇêl — 2 Occ.
’ă·ḇê·lîm — 2 Occ.
’ă·ḇê·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ka·’ă·ḇel- — 1 Occ.
la·’ă·ḇê·lê — 1 Occ.
wə·la·’ă·ḇê·lāw — 1 Occ.