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יַבֵּל

𐤉𐤁𐤋

yabbêl

H2990 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יבל to bring, carry, flow

Definition

A running sore, ulcer, or pustular swelling—an abnormal bodily growth involving oozing or festering. In context, it refers to a pathological lesion characterized by discharge, often indicative of a serious skin disease or infection. The term designates an active, weeping sore rather than a healed wound or a dry scab.

Semantic Range

runny sore, weeping ulcer, flowing lesion, pustular swelling, festering abnormality

Root / Etymology

Root: יבל. The root יבל primarily means 'to bring, carry, flow.' The noun derives from the sense of 'flowing' or 'bringing forth,' here applied to a bodily lesion that discharges fluid. The lexical form likely reflects the image of something issuing or exuding from the sore.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יַבֵּל appears only in Leviticus 22:22, in the context of defects that disqualify animals from being acceptable offerings. The focus is on a visible, flowing or oozing ulcer, which would render the animal ritually unfit. The noun is distinct from other terms for skin diseases such as גָּרָב (garav, 'itch,' H1618) or יַלֶּפֶת (yalephet, 'scab,' H3217), as יַבֵּל specifically emphasizes the 'running' or exuding nature of the abnormality. English translations vary, with renderings such as 'wen,' 'running sore,' or 'ulcer,' sometimes failing to capture the precise nuance of an actively oozing lesion. The use of the term is technical and limited to priestly-legal contexts in the Torah, with no evidence of usage beyond this context in the Hebrew Bible. In later Hebrew and rabbinic tradition, similar terms are employed for dermatological conditions, often in discussions of ritual impurity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָבַל; having running sores; wen.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יבל (y-b-l) — bring, carry, flow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H180 אוּבָל the water-bearing stream
H2981 יְבוּל and her yield
H2986 יָבַל I will conduct them
H2987 יְבַל and to cause to bring
H2988 יָבָל streams of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2990-01 יַבֶּ֗לֶת yabelet HNcfsa wart flowing ulcer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2990-01 Leviticus 22:22 יַבֶּ֗לֶת yabelet HNcfsa wart flowing ulcer
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