What does אָבַל (aval) mean in the Bible?
אָבַל (aval): Emotional expression of grief through vocal lamentation; deep mourning that manifests in audible, bodily acts of sorrow
Hebrew · H56
אָבַל
To bewail
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אָבַלH56
Pronunciationaval
What does אָבַל (aval) mean in the Bible?
אָבַל (aval): Emotional expression of grief through vocal lamentation; deep mourning that manifests in audible, bodily acts of sorrow
Full entry for אָבַל (H56) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H56?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include mourn (6), mourns (6), mourned (4), will mourn (3), and mourn (1).
Where does אָבַל (aval) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (6), Jeremiah (5), 2 Samuel (4), 1 Samuel (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 Itmourn6×Nehemiah 8:9, Jeremiah 12:4, Ezekiel 7:12, Amos 1:2
mourns6×Isaiah 24:4, Isaiah 33:9, Jeremiah 14:2, Jeremiah 23:10
mourned4×Numbers 14:39, 1 Samuel 15:35, 1 Chronicles 7:22, 2 Chronicles 35:24
will mourn3×Jeremiah 4:28, Ezekiel 7:27, Hosea 10:5
and mourn1×Isaiah 3:26
and mourned1×Genesis 37:34
and mourning1×2 Samuel 19:1
and mourns1×Job 14:22
and the people mourned1×1 Samuel 6:19
are in mourning1×Joel 1:9
But David mourned1×2 Samuel 13:37
dries up1×Isaiah 24:7
going to mourn1×1 Samuel 16:1
he was mourning1×Ezra 10:6
I caused mourning1×Ezekiel 31:15
I mourned1×Nehemiah 1:4
it mourns1×Jeremiah 12:11
lament1×Lamentations 2:8
mourning1×Daniel 10:2
pretend to be a mourner1×2 Samuel 14:2
they went into mourning1×Exodus 33:4
who has mourned1×2 Samuel 14:2
who mourn1×Isaiah 66:10
will lament1×Isaiah 19:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:34וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥לtoand mournedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 33:4וַיִּתְאַבָּ֑לוּtothey went into mourningConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 14:39וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֥וּtomournedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Samuel 6:19וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּtoand the people mournedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Samuel 15:35הִתְאַבֵּ֥לtomournedVerb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 16:1מִתְאַבֵּ֣לtogoing to mournVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular2 Samuel 13:37וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥לtoBut David mournedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 14:2הִֽתְאַבְּלִי־topretend to be a mournerVerb - Hitpael - Imperative - feminine singular2 Samuel 14:2מִתְאַבֶּ֖לֶתtowho has mournedVerb - Hitpael - Participle - feminine singular2 Samuel 19:1וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֖לtoand mourningConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:34
Aligned rows39
Books represented18
Genesis1Exodus1Numbers11 Samuel32 Samuel41 Chronicles12 Chronicles1Ezra1Nehemiah2Job1Isaiah6Jeremiah5Lamentations1Ezekiel3Daniel1Hosea2Joel2Amos3
Source forms
תֶּאֱבַ֣ל3xte·’ĕ·ḇalJeremiah 4:28, Jeremiah 12:4, Hosea 4:3
אָבְלָ֣ה2x’ā·ḇə·lāhJeremiah 14:2, Jeremiah 23:10
וְאָבְל֖וּ2xwə·’ā·ḇə·lūIsaiah 3:26, Amos 9:5
וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל2xway·yiṯ·’ab·bêlGenesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 13:37
אָבַ֥ל1x’ā·ḇalIsaiah 24:7
אָבַ֤ל1x’ā·ḇalIsaiah 33:9
אָבַ֨ל1x’ā·ḇalHosea 10:5
אָבְלָ֤ה1x’ā·ḇə·lāhIsaiah 24:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular5xIsaiah 24:4, Jeremiah 12:11, Jeremiah 14:2, Jeremiah 23:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4xGenesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 19:1, 1 Chronicles 7:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural4xIsaiah 3:26, Isaiah 19:8, Amos 1:2, Amos 9:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular4xJob 14:22, Jeremiah 4:28, Jeremiah 12:4, Hosea 4:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xExodus 33:4, Numbers 14:39, 1 Samuel 6:19
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular3x1 Samuel 16:1, Ezra 10:6, Daniel 10:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xIsaiah 24:7, Isaiah 33:9, Hosea 10:5
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xEzekiel 7:12, Ezekiel 7:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Emotional expression of grief through vocal lamentation; deep mourning that manifests in audible, bodily acts of sorrow
Strong'sH56
Lexical occurrences39 versesWord forms3 forms24 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 4:1-3Source Gloss
to bewail
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Emotional expression of grief through vocal lamentation; deep mourning that manifests in audible, bodily acts of sorrow
to bewail BDB: mourn Usage: lament, mourn.
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 groups3Aligned forms24
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others10×
Participle active1Sam 16:1 · 2Chr 35:24 · 2Sam 14:2 · Dan 10:2 · Ezra 10:65×
JussiveEzek 7:12 · Neh 8:92×
Perfect1Sam 15:351×
Sequential imperfect2Sam 14:21×
ImperfectEzek 7:271×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
PerfectIsa 24:4 · Jer 12:11 · Jer 14:2 · Jer 23:10 · Joel 1:10 · Hos 10:5 · Isa 24:7 · Isa 33:9 · Joel 1:99×
ImperfectHos 4:3 · Jer 4:28 · Jer 12:4 · Job 14:224×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
PerfectEzek 31:151×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to mourn
Showing 1 selected witness from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָבַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Land personified under covenant curse.Hosea 4:1-3
Canonical Themes
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.