What does טָבַל (ṭābal) mean in the Bible?
טָבַל (ṭābal): To immerse wholly into liquid; in ritual contexts, connotes purification and consecration rather than mere contact
Hebrew · H2881
טָבַל
To dip , to immerse
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טָבַל H2881
Pronunciation ṭābal
What does טָבַל (ṭābal) mean in the Bible?
טָבַל (ṭābal): To immerse wholly into liquid; in ritual contexts, connotes purification and consecration rather than mere contact
Full entry for טָבַל (H2881) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2881?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include dip (4), and dip (3), dipped (2), is to dip (2), and dipped (1).
Where does טָבַל (ṭābal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:31. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (6), 2 Kings (2), 1 Samuel (1), Deuteronomy (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 dip 4× Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:16, Leviticus 14:51, Numbers 19:18
and dip 3× Leviticus 14:6, Deuteronomy 33:24, Ruth 2:14
dipped 2× 1 Samuel 14:27, 2 Kings 8:15
is to dip 2× Leviticus 4:6, Leviticus 4:17
and dipped 1× Genesis 37:31
and dipped himself 1× 2 Kings 5:14
and he dipped 1× Leviticus 9:9
touched 1× Joshua 3:15
You would plunge me 1× Job 9:31
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:31 וַיִּטְבְּל֥וּ to and dipped Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Exodus 12:22 וּטְבַלְתֶּם֮ to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural Leviticus 4:6 וְטָבַ֧ל to is to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 4:17 וְטָבַ֧ל to is to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 9:9 וַיִּטְבֹּ֤ל to and he dipped Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 14:6 וְטָבַ֨ל to and dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 14:16 וְטָבַ֤ל to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 14:51 וְטָבַ֣ל to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Numbers 19:18 וְטָבַ֣ל to dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 33:24 וְטֹבֵ֥ל to and dip Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 37:31
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 10
Genesis 1 Exodus 1 Leviticus 6 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 1 Ruth 1 1 Samuel 1 2 Kings 2 Job 1
Source forms
וְטָבַ֧ל 2x wə·ṭā·ḇal Leviticus 4:6, Leviticus 4:17
וְטָבַ֣ל 2x wə·ṭā·ḇal Leviticus 14:51, Numbers 19:18
וַיִּטְבֹּ֤ל 2x way·yiṭ·bōl Leviticus 9:9, 2 Kings 5:14
וְטָבַ֨ל 1x wə·ṭā·ḇal Leviticus 14:6
וְטָבַ֤ל 1x wə·ṭā·ḇal Leviticus 14:16
וְטֹבֵ֥ל 1x wə·ṭō·ḇêl Deuteronomy 33:24
וְטָבַ֥לְתְּ 1x wə·ṭā·ḇalt Ruth 2:14
וּטְבַלְתֶּם֮ 1x ū·ṭə·ḇal·tem Exodus 12:22
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 6x Leviticus 4:6, Leviticus 4:17, Leviticus 14:6, Leviticus 14:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x Leviticus 9:9, 1 Samuel 14:27, 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Kings 8:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular 1x Ruth 2:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural 1x Exodus 12:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Genesis 37:31
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 33:24
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Joshua 3:15
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular 1x Job 9:31
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To immerse wholly into liquid; in ritual contexts, connotes purification and consecration rather than mere contact
Strong's H2881
Lexical occurrences 16 verses Word forms 1 form 1 reference Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 19:24 Source Gloss
to dip , to immerse
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To immerse wholly into liquid; in ritual contexts, connotes purification and consecration rather than mere contact
to dip, to immerse BDB: dip Usage: dip, plunge.
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 1 Aligned forms 1
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Perfect Josh 3:15 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
lazy person dips hand in dish but cannot bring it to mouth
Showing 1 selected witness from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
טָבַל 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.
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