Strong's Lexicon

H1891

H1891 — הָבַל

Hebrew / Aramaic entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

Hebrewhabalverb-stemOccurrences: 5TWOT: 463

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:H1891
Word:הָבַל
Part of Speech:verb-stem
Etymology:a primitive root
Language:Hebrew
Occurrences:5
Transliteration:habal
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:haw-bal'
Meaning:1. to be vain in act, word, or expectation 2. specifically to lead astray
KJV Renderings:be (become, make) vain.

Use Strong's responsibly

Strong's is an index and starting point, not the final meaning of a word. Do not build doctrine from a gloss, root, or number. Test meaning by sentence, grammar, authorial usage, context, and the passage argument.

Read: Using Strong's Responsibly

Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB2042

הָבַל verb denominative act emptily, become vain

Qal Jer 2:5 = 2Kgs 17:15 they went after vanity וַיֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ and became vain, Ps 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 Jer 23:16 (of false prophets) מַהְבִּלִים הֵמָּה אֶתְכֶם i.e. fill you with vain hopes.


Other Resources

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke

Englishman's Hebrew Concordance

הבל (hăh-val’)

2 Kings 17:15

KJV: And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
EHCC: and became vain, and went after

Job 27:12

KJV: Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
EHCC: why then are ye thus altogether rain?

Jeremiah 2:5

KJV: Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
EHCC: after vanity, and are become vain?

Jeremiah 23:16

KJV: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
EHCC: they make you vain :
↑ Top