Strong's Lexicon: H2254 חָבַל

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:	H2254
Word:	חָבַל
Part of Speech:	verb
Etymology:	a primitive root
Language:	Hebrew
Occurrences:	29
Transliteration:	chabal
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:	khaw-bal'
Meaning:	1. to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind 2. specifically, by a pledge 3. (figuratively) to pervert, destroy 4. also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition)
KJV Renderings:	X at all, band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay &Š to (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, X very, withhold.

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Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB2497

I. [חָבַל] verb bind, pledge (Arabic [untranscribed source text 1588] bind; compare Aramaic [untranscribed source text 1589], [untranscribed source text 1590] travail; חֲבַל pledge (but rare and dubious); especially [untranscribed source text 1591] cord, field, חַבְלָא cord, [untranscribed source text 1592], חֶבְלָא pain, especially of travail; Sabean חבל border-territory, or field, SabDenkm^48.49; Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 1593] Zim^{BP 93 n.}, compare Assyrian na—balu , rope, snare (but — = [untranscribed source text 1594])) —

Qal Perfect חָבָ֑ל Ezek 18:16 Imperfect יַחֲבֹל Deut 24:6 2 masculine singular תַּחֲבֹל Deut 24:17 תַּחְבֹּל Ezek 22:25; Job 22:6 יַחְבְּלוּ Job 24:3 יַחְבֹּ֑לוּ Job 24:9 Imperative suffix חַבְלֵהוּ Prov 20:16; Prov 27:13 Infinitive absolute חָבֹל Exod 22:25 Participle active חֹבֵל Deut 24:6, compare חֹבְלִים Zech 11:7; Zech 11:14 (name of מַקֵּל); passive חֲבֻלִים Amos 2:8 —

1. bind, only in חֹבְלִים, name of one of Zechariah's symbolic staves, Zech 11:7; Zech 11:14 symbolic of fraternity. Especially

2. bind by taking a pledge of, hold by a pledge, followed by accusative of person Prov 20:16; Prov 27:13; Job 22:6 take or hold in pledge, followed by accusative of thing Exod 22:25 ( J E ), Deut 24:6 (twice in verse); Deut 24:17; Job 24:3 followed by accusative of cognate meaning with verb חֲבֹל Ezek 18:16 עַלעָֿנִי יַחְבֹּ֑לוּ Job 24:9 probably pregnant (see Di) take pledges (getting power) over the poor; בְּגָדִים חֲבֻלִים Amos 2:8 garments taken in pledge.

Niph`al Imperfect יֵחָ֫בֶל לוֺ Prov 13:13 becometh pledged to it (i.e. pledged to pay the penalty, opposed to יְשֻׁלָּ֑ם), so Ew Hi De Now Str RVm VB . > below II. חָבַל q. v.

Pi`el Perfect 3 feminine singular חִבְּלָה Song 8:5 חִבְּלַתְךָ Song 8:5 Imperfect יְחַבֶּלֿ Ps 7:15 — writhe, twist, hence travail; of mother Song 8:5 (twice in verse) (with accusative of child; || יְלָדָ֑תְךָ); metaphor of wicked man יְחַבֶּלאָֿ֑וֶן וְהָרָה עָמָל וְיָלַד שָֽׁקֶר ׃ Ps 7:15 .

BDB2506

II. חָבַל verb act (ruinously) corruptly (Late Hebrew id. wound, injure; Arabic [untranscribed source text 1595] corrupt or render unsound (the mind, a limb, etc.), [untranscribed source text 1596] be deranged (in mind); Assyrian —abâlu , injure, VR^{62, 11}; Aramaic [untranscribed source text 1597], חַבֵּל corrupt, ruin; Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 1598] be arrogant, audacious; Sabean חֿבל DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 48}; compare Palmyrene חבל mortuus Vog^{No. 161} and often) —

Qal Perfect 1 plural חָבַלְנוּ Neh 1:7 Imperfect 1 singular אֶחְבֹּל Job 34:31 Infinitive construct (used as absolute) Neh 1:7 — act corruptly against, חֲבֹל חבלנו לְ Neh 1:7 absolute Job 34:31.

Niph`al Imperfect יֵחָ֫בֶל לוֺ Prov 13:13 shall be ruined (לְ reflexive), Thes Rob-Ges AV RV , but < I. חָבַל (q. v.)

Pi`el ruin, destroy: Perfect 3 masculine singular consecutive וְחִבֵּל את מעשׂה ידיך Eccl 5:5, subject God. Imperfect 3 feminine singular תְּחַבֵּל וְחֶבֶל נִמְרָץ Mic 2:10 that destroyeth, even with sore destruction; but read rather ׳ נ ׳ תְּחֻבְּלוּ ח ye shall be destroyed with etc., so ᵐ5 Roo Che. Infinitive construct לְחַבֵּל with accusative, the poor Isa 32:7, the land Isa 13:5 absolute Isa 54:16 compare Participle plural מְחַבְּלִים Song 2:15 with accusative of foxes ruining vineyards.

Pu`al Perfect 3 masculine singular וְחֻבַּל consecutive Isa 10:27 of yoke, be ruined, broken, si vera lectio; RS^{JPh
xiii. 1885, p. 62} proposes יחדל, compare also Che^{critical note}.; and remark by Di Du; 3 feminine singular חֻבָּ֑לָה Job 17:1 my spirit is broken (|| יָמַי נִזְעָ֑כוּ); Imperfect 2 masculine plural תְּחֻבְּלוּ Mic 2:10 (emendation: see above)

BDB9501

ח

[חֲבַל] verb

Pa`el destroy, hurt (see Biblical Hebrew II. חבל ); — Perfect 3 masculine plural suffix חַבְּלוּנִי Dan 6:23 (of lions); Imperative masculine plural suffix חַבְּלוּהִי Dan 4:20 (suffix of tree); Infinitive לְחַבָּלָה Ezra 6:12 (accusative of temple).

Hithpa`al be destroyed: Imperfect 3 feminine singular תִּתְחַבַּל Dan 2:44; Dan 6:27; Dan 7:14 ( בַּ֑ל-; all of kingdom of God).

Other Resources

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

Strong's Lexicon