What does חָבַל (yəḥabbel) mean in the Bible?
חָבַל (yəḥabbel): Binding action that moves from physical restraint to covenant violation, corruption, and destructive harm of persons.
Hebrew · H2254
חָבַל
To wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind ; specifically, by a pledge ; figuratively, to pervert , destroy ; also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition)
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חָבַלH2254
Pronunciationyəḥabbel
What does חָבַל (yəḥabbel) mean in the Bible?
חָבַל (yəḥabbel): Binding action that moves from physical restraint to covenant violation, corruption, and destructive harm of persons.
Full entry for חָבַל (H2254) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2254?
The BSB source-word alignment has 27 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), as security (2), get collateral (2), to destroy (2), [the wicked man] travails (1).
Where does חָבַל (yəḥabbel) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 22:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (5), Isaiah (4), Deuteronomy (3), Proverbs (3).
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. . .2×Exodus 22:26, Nehemiah 1:7
as security2×Deuteronomy 24:6, Deuteronomy 24:17
get collateral2×Proverbs 20:16, Proverbs 27:13
to destroy2×Isaiah 13:5, Isaiah 32:7
[the wicked man] travails1×Psalms 7:14
and destroy1×Ecclesiastes 5:6
as collateral1×Exodus 22:26
as security for a debt1×Deuteronomy 24:6
brings destruction1×Micah 2:10
conceived you1×Song Of Solomon 8:5
demanded security1×Job 22:6
I will offend1×Job 34:31
in pledge1×Job 24:3
is broken1×Job 17:1
is seized for a debt1×Job 24:9
or retain1×Ezekiel 18:16
she travailed1×Song Of Solomon 8:5
taken in pledge1×Amos 2:8
that ruin1×Song Of Solomon 2:15
to wreak havoc1×Isaiah 54:16
We have behaved corruptly1×Nehemiah 1:7
will be broken1×Isaiah 10:27
will pay the penalty1×Proverbs 13:13
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 22:26חָבֹ֥לtoas collateralVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteExodus 22:26תַּחְבֹּ֖לto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 24:6יַחֲבֹ֥לtoas security for a debtVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 24:6חֹבֵֽל׃סtoas securityVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 24:17תַחֲבֹ֔לtoas securityVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularNehemiah 1:7חֲבֹ֖לtoWe have behaved corruptlyVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructNehemiah 1:7חָבַ֣לְנוּto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralJob 17:1חֻ֭בָּלָהtois brokenVerb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singularJob 22:6תַחְבֹּ֣לtodemanded securityVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJob 24:3יַ֝חְבְּל֗וּtoin pledgeVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 22:26
Aligned rows27
Books represented12
Exodus2Deuteronomy3Nehemiah2Job5Psalms1Proverbs3Ecclesiastes1Song Of Solomon3Isaiah4Ezekiel1Amos1Micah1
Source forms
חַבְלֵֽהוּ׃2xḥaḇ·lê·hūProverbs 20:16, Proverbs 27:13
אֶחְבֹּֽל׃1x’eḥ·bōlJob 34:31
וְחִבֵּ֖ל1xwə·ḥib·bêlEcclesiastes 5:6
וְחֻבַּ֥ל1xwə·ḥub·balIsaiah 10:27
חֲבֹ֖ל1xḥă·ḇōlNehemiah 1:7
חָבָ֔ל1xḥā·ḇālEzekiel 18:16
חָבֹ֥ל1xḥā·ḇōlExodus 22:26
חֹבֵֽל׃ס1xḥō·ḇêlDeuteronomy 24:6
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct3xIsaiah 13:5, Isaiah 32:7, Isaiah 54:16
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xExodus 22:26, Deuteronomy 24:17, Job 22:6
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular2xProverbs 20:16, Proverbs 27:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJob 24:3, Job 24:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xEcclesiastes 5:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 10:27
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xProverbs 13:13
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xMicah 2:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Binding action that moves from physical restraint to covenant violation, corruption, and destructive harm of persons.
Strong'sH2254
Lexical occurrences27 versesWord forms4 forms19 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 7:14–17Source Gloss
to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind ; specifically, by a pledge ; figuratively, to pervert , destroy ; also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Binding action that moves from physical restraint to covenant violation, corruption, and destructive harm of persons.
to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind; specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) BDB: act (ruinously) corruptly Usage: × at all, band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay to (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, × very, withhold.
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 groups4Aligned forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
ImperfectDeut 24:17 · Exod 22:25 · Job 22:6 · Job 24:3 · Job 24:9 · Deut 24:6 · Job 34:317×
PerfectEzek 18:16 · Neh 1:72×
Participle passiveAmos 2:81×
Participle activeDeut 24:61×
Infinitive absoluteExod 22:251×
Infinitive constructNeh 1:71×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
PerfectJob 17:11×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action4×
ImperfectMic 2:10 · Ps 7:152×
Participle activeSong 2:151×
PerfectSong 8:51×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectProv 13:131×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To be in labor; to travail with child; used metaphorically for the production of evil
Showing 1 selected witness from 27 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָבַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.