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קְבֵל

𐤒𐤁𐤋

qᵉbêl

H6903 conjunction

SILEX Entry

Root קבל to be in front of, to confront, to correspond

Definition

As a preposition or conjunction in Biblical Aramaic, קְבֵל (qᵉbêl) primarily means 'in front of, before, opposite to', and when used with other particles, it can convey causal or concessive senses such as 'because of, on account of, for the reason that, therefore, although'. The term functions to indicate spatial, logical, or causal relationships, depending on its position and conjunction with other words.

Semantic Range

in front of, before, opposite, over against, in the presence of; because of, on account of, for this reason, therefore, forasmuch as, by reason of, as, since, though

Root / Etymology

קְבֵל derives from the Semitic root ק־ב־ל, which has the core meaning 'to be in front of, to oppose, to correspond'. In Hebrew (קָבַל), the root developed senses such as 'to receive, to accept', but in Aramaic, the primary sense is spatial ('in front of, opposite'), which, by extension, can become logical ('because of, on account of'). Both Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic share the root but have diverging semantic developments.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Aramaic texts, especially in the books of Daniel and Ezra, קְבֵל is a common prepositional/conjunctional marker. Its principal use is to state that something is 'in the presence of' or 'before' another, both literally and metaphorically. With prefixed prepositions (such as בְּקֳבֵל or מִן-qᵉbêl), it yields phrases indicating cause or reason ('because of, on account of'). In legal or formal settings, it may denote something being set 'in opposition' or 'in counterpart'. Later Aramaic dialects and Rabbinic Hebrew preserve related senses. English translations often render it according to immediate context (e.g., 'because', 'before', 'in front of'), but these may obscure the underlying prepositional logic that ties spatial and causal meanings together. Unlike Hebrew לִפְנֵי or עַל־פְּנֵי, קְבֵל/קֳבֵל in Aramaic systematizes both spatial and logical contrasts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or קֳבֵל; (Aramaic), (corresponding to קָבָל; (adverbially) in front of; usually (with other particles) on account of, so as, since, hence; [phrase] according to, [phrase] as, [phrase] because, before, [phrase] for this cause, [phrase] forasmuch as, [phrase] by this means, over against, by reason of, [phrase] that, [phrase] therefore, [phrase] though, [phrase] wherefore.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קבל (q-b-l) — to be in front of, to confront, to correspond

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6901 קָבַל those causing to receive
H6902 קְבַל he accepted
H6904 קֹבֶל his battering-ram
H6905 קָבָל front-of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6903-03 קֳבֵל֙ qovel AC because in front of 22
H6903-01 לָ/קֳבֵ֣ל laqovel AR/R before in front of 5
H6903-04 וְ/לָ/קֳבֵ֥ל velaqovel AC/R/R and before and in front of 1
H6903-02 לְ/קָבְלָ֑/ךְ leqavelakhe AR/R/Sp2ms before you in front of you 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6903-03 Daniel 2:8 קֳבֵל֙ qovel AC because in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 2:10 קֳבֵ֗ל qovel AC because in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 2:12 קֳבֵ֣ל qovel AC cause in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 2:24 קֳבֵ֣ל qovel AC because-of in front of
H6903-02 Daniel 2:31 לְ/קָבְלָ֑/ךְ leqavelakhe AR/R/Sp2ms before you in front of you
H6903-03 Daniel 2:40 קֳבֵ֗ל qovel AC because in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 2:41 קֳבֵל֙ qovel AC because in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 2:45 קֳבֵ֣ל qovel AC that in front of
H6903-01 Daniel 3:3 לָ/קֳבֵ֣ל laqovel AR/R before in front of
H6903-03 Daniel 3:7 קֳבֵ֣ל qovel AC at in front of
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