What does גָּבַל (gābal) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַל (gābal): Marking territorial limits through physical demarcation; emphasizes the boundary itself as a restraining line
Hebrew · H1379
גָּבַל
Properly, to twist as a rope; to bound (as by a line)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
גָּבַל H1379
Pronunciation gābal
What does גָּבַל (gābal) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַל (gābal): Marking territorial limits through physical demarcation; emphasizes the boundary itself as a restraining line
Full entry for גָּבַל (H1379) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1379?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include And you are to set up a boundary (1), Put a boundary around (1), the border (1), which borders (1), which was set up (1).
Where does גָּבַל (gābal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 19:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (2), Deuteronomy (1), Joshua (1), Zechariah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It And you are to set up a boundary 1× Exodus 19:12
Put a boundary around 1× Exodus 19:23
the border 1× Joshua 18:20
which borders 1× Zechariah 9:2
which was set up 1× Deuteronomy 19:14
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 19:12 וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ֤ to And you are to set up a boundary Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Exodus 19:23 הַגְבֵּ֥ל to Put a boundary around Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Deuteronomy 19:14 גָּבְל֖וּ to which was set up Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Joshua 18:20 יִגְבֹּל־ to the border Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Zechariah 9:2 תִּגְבָּל־ to which borders Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 19:12
Aligned rows 5
Books represented 4
Exodus 2 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
גָּבְל֖וּ 1x gā·ḇə·lū Deuteronomy 19:14
הַגְבֵּ֥ל 1x haḡ·bêl Exodus 19:23
וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ֤ 1x wə·hiḡ·bal·tā Exodus 19:12
יִגְבֹּל־ 1x yiḡ·bōl- Joshua 18:20
תִּגְבָּל־ 1x tiḡ·bāl- Zechariah 9:2
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular 1x Exodus 19:12
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular 1x Exodus 19:23
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Zechariah 9:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Joshua 18:20
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Deuteronomy 19:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Marking territorial limits through physical demarcation; emphasizes the boundary itself as a restraining line
Source Gloss
properly, to twist as a rope; to bound (as by a line)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Marking territorial limits through physical demarcation; emphasizes the boundary itself as a restraining line
properly, to twist as a rope; to bound (as by a line) BDB: bound Usage: be border, set (bounds about).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 4
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 3×
Imperfect Josh 18:20 · Zech 9:2 2×
Perfect Deut 19:14 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 1×
Sequential imperfect Exod 19:23 1×
Word Origins
גָּבַל is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain