What does נָבֵל (nābēl) mean in the Bible?
נָבֵל (nābēl): Progressive deterioration from physical wilting to moral corruption; failure and foolishness as inevitable decline
Hebrew · H5034
נָבֵל
To wilt ; generally, to fall away, fail , faint ; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked ; causatively, to despise , disgrace
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נָבֵלH5034
Pronunciationnābēl
What does נָבֵל (nābēl) mean in the Bible?
נָבֵל (nābēl): Progressive deterioration from physical wilting to moral corruption; failure and foolishness as inevitable decline
Full entry for נָבֵל (H5034) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5034?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include wither (3), fall (2), lose heart (2), . . . (1), and crumbles (1).
Where does נָבֵל (nābēl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 18:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (11), Psalms (3), Exodus (2), Jeremiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itwither3×Psalms 1:3, Isaiah 64:6, Ezekiel 47:12
fall2×Isaiah 40:7, Isaiah 40:8
lose heart2×2 Samuel 22:46, Psalms 18:45
. . .1×Exodus 18:18
and crumbles1×Job 14:18
and fades1×Isaiah 24:4
and scorned1×Deuteronomy 32:15
and treat you with contempt1×Nahum 3:6
and wilt1×Psalms 37:2
and withers1×Isaiah 24:4
are withered1×Isaiah 1:30
disgrace1×Jeremiah 14:21
dishonors1×Micah 7:6
like foliage1×Isaiah 34:4
like withered1×Isaiah 34:4
The fading1×Isaiah 28:4
to the fading1×Isaiah 28:1
will fall1×Isaiah 34:4
will wear yourselves out1×Exodus 18:18
will wither1×Jeremiah 8:13
you have foolishly1×Proverbs 30:32
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 18:18נָבֹ֣לtowill wear yourselves outVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteExodus 18:18תִּבֹּ֔לto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:15וַיְנַבֵּ֖לtoand scornedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 22:46יִבֹּ֑לוּtolose heartVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 14:18יִבּ֑וֹלtoand crumblesVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 1:3יִבּ֑וֹלtowitherVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 18:45יִבֹּ֑לוּtolose heartVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralPsalms 37:2יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃toand wiltVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunProverbs 30:32נָבַ֥לְתָּtoyou have foolishlyVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularIsaiah 1:30נֹבֶ֣לֶתtoare witheredVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 18:18
Aligned rows25
Books represented11
Exodus2Deuteronomy12 Samuel1Job1Psalms3Proverbs1Isaiah11Jeremiah2Ezekiel1Micah1Nahum1
Source forms
יִבּ֑וֹל2xyib·bō·wlJob 14:18, Psalms 1:3
יִבֹּ֑לוּ2xyib·bō·lū2 Samuel 22:46, Psalms 18:45
נָ֣בֵֽל2xnā·ḇêlIsaiah 40:7, Isaiah 40:8
וַיְנַבֵּ֖ל1xway·nab·bêlDeuteronomy 32:15
וּכְנֹבֶ֖לֶת1xū·ḵə·nō·ḇe·leṯIsaiah 34:4
וַנָּ֤בֶל1xwan·nā·ḇelIsaiah 64:6
וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ1xwə·nib·bal·tîḵNahum 3:6
יִבּ֔וֹל1xyib·bō·wlIsaiah 34:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4xJob 14:18, Psalms 1:3, Isaiah 34:4, Ezekiel 47:12
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xIsaiah 40:7, Isaiah 40:8, Jeremiah 8:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2x2 Samuel 22:46, Psalms 18:45
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xIsaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xIsaiah 24:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular1xNahum 3:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 32:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural1xIsaiah 64:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Progressive deterioration from physical wilting to moral corruption; failure and foolishness as inevitable decline
Source Gloss
to wilt ; generally, to fall away, fail , faint ; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked ; causatively, to despise , disgrace
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Progressive deterioration from physical wilting to moral corruption; failure and foolishness as inevitable decline
to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace BDB: sink Usage: disgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, × surely, make vile, wither.
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 groups2Aligned forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense17×
ImperfectEzek 47:12 · Isa 34:4 · Job 14:18 · Ps 1:3 · 2Sam 22:46 · Ps 18:46 · Exod 18:187×
PerfectIsa 40:7 · Isa 40:8 · Jer 8:13 · Isa 24:4 · Prov 30:326×
Participle activeIsa 1:30 · Isa 28:1 · Isa 28:43×
Infinitive absoluteExod 18:181×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
JussiveJer 14:211×
Participle activeMic 7:61×
Word Origins
נָבֵל is a primitive root - no further derivation.