אָבֵל
𐤀𐤁𐤋
Avel
H59 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating a location: 'Abel,' a place name appearing in several contexts in the Hebrew Bible, referring specifically to a meadow-like or grassy area—often specified with an additional descriptor (e.g., Abel-mizraim, Abel-beth-maacah) to distinguish among different sites. The term conveys the sense of 'grassy field' or 'meadow' and is employed in toponymy (place-naming) to connote fertile or well-watered land.
Semantic Range
meadow, grassy field; component of compound place names indicating a meadow; by extension, fertile area; geographic designation of particular sites
Root / Etymology
From the root אָבֵל (ʾbl), meaning 'meadow' or 'grassy plain.' The word functions as a common noun for 'meadow' in Hebrew but is found primarily as a component of place names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The place name אָבֵל ('Abel') serves as a prefix in several compound toponyms in the Hebrew Bible, most notably Abel-mizraim (Genesis 50:11), Abel-shittim (Numbers 33:49), and Abel-beth-maacah (2 Samuel 20:14). In each case, the name appears to reflect the local geography as a meadow or grassy tract. The rendering 'Abel' in English bibles does not reflect any personal genealogy or ethnic association, and is unrelated to the personal name Hevel (Habel/Abel), the son of Adam. English translations typically retain the transliterated form or describe it as 'meadow of...,' though the underlying Hebrew emphasizes the landscape. The term is distinct from related nouns such as שָׂדֶה (sadeh, 'field'), which has a broader semantic range. In later periods and extra-biblical sources, the name persists as a place designation. Standard English versions do not always make clear that its essential meaning is 'meadow.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָבֵל; a meadow; Abel, the name of two places in Palestine.; Abel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אבל (ʾ-b-l) — meadow, grassy plain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H56 | אָבַל | but indeed |
| H57 | אָבֵל | mourning man |
| H5767 | עַוָּל | indeed, however |
| H60 | אֵבֶל | mourning-of |
| H61 | אֲבָל | but indeed |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H59-04 |
בְּ/אָבֵ֨לָ/ה֙ | beavelah | HR/Np/Sd |
in Abel | in Abel-meadow | 1 |
H59-03 |
בְּ/אָבֵ֖ל | beavel | HR/Np |
at Abel | in Meadow | 1 |
H59-02 |
אָבֵ֛לָ/ה | avelah | HNp/Sd |
Abel | Meadow | 1 |
H59-01 |
אָבֵ֣ל | avel | HNp |
Abel | unjust | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H59-01 |
1 Samuel 6:18 | אָבֵ֣ל | avel | HNp |
Abel | unjust |
H59-02 |
2 Samuel 20:14 | אָבֵ֛לָ/ה | avelah | HNp/Sd |
Abel | Meadow |
H59-04 |
2 Samuel 20:15 | בְּ/אָבֵ֨לָ/ה֙ | beavelah | HR/Np/Sd |
in Abel | in Abel-meadow |
H59-03 |
2 Samuel 20:18 | בְּ/אָבֵ֖ל | beavel | HR/Np |
at Abel | in Meadow |