← H59 H61 →

אֵבֶל

𐤀𐤁𐤋

ʼêbel

H60 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אבל to mourn, to lament, to grieve

Definition

A condition or period of mourning, especially in response to death or disaster; the formal practices, rituals, or expressions of grief characteristic of Israelite society in various historical periods. The term encompasses both the internal state of sorrow and its outward manifestations, including communal lamentation and prescribed mourning customs.

Semantic Range

mourning (period of bereavement), lamentation (ritual or communal expression of grief), state of grief, formalized mourning practices, outward signs of sorrow

Root / Etymology

אֵבֶל derives from the root אָבַל (אבל), which conveys the sense of 'to mourn' or 'to lament.' The noun form אֵבֶל refers to the state, period, or act of mourning, especially regarding bereavement. Its formation follows the pattern of nouns expressing conditions or states associated with a root action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אֵבֶל denotes both spontaneous and ritualized mourning, often linked to the death of an individual (e.g., Genesis 50:10, formal laments for Jacob). The practice of אֵבֶל could include wailing, wearing sackcloth, fasting, and other gestures of bereavement. In patriarchal and monarchic periods, mourning customs had social and familial significance, such as designated time periods and public expression. Later, under exilic and post-exilic influence, mourning traditions evolved and became more systematized, sometimes influenced by neighboring cultures. English translations usually render אֵבֶל as 'mourning' or 'lamentation,' which generally capture its main meaning but sometimes obscure its communal dimension or ritual aspects. Unlike modern Western understandings of grief, biblical mourning was often public and shared. The noun אֵבֶל is distinct from other Hebrew terms for grief (such as תַּנִּית for 'fast' or דִּמְעָה for 'tears'), as it emphasizes an established period or process of lamentation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָבַל; lamentation; mourning.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אבל (ʾ-b-l) — to mourn, to lament, to grieve

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H56 אָבַל but indeed
H57 אָבֵל mourning man
H5767 עַוָּל indeed, however
H59 אָבֵל Meadow
H61 אֲבָל but indeed

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H60-01 אֵ֣בֶל evel HNcmsc mourning mourning-of 13
H60-06 לְ/אֵ֖בֶל leevel HR/Ncmsa to mourning to mourning 4
H60-04 הָ/אֵ֗בֶל haevel HTd/Ncmsa the mourning the mourning 2
H60-08 וְ/אֵ֖בֶל veevel HC/Ncmsa and mourning mourning 1
H60-02 אֶבְלָ֤/ם evelam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their mourning their mourning 1
H60-05 כְּ/אֵ֣בֶל keevel HR/Ncmsa like-mourning like mourning 1
H60-07 וּ/מֵ/אֵ֖בֶל umeevel HC/R/Ncmsa and-from-mourning and from mourning 1
H60-03 אֶבְלֵֽ/ךְ evelekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your mourning your mourning 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H60-01 Genesis 27:41 אֵ֣בֶל evel HNcmsc of mourning mourning-of
H60-01 Genesis 50:10 אֵ֖בֶל evel HNcmsa mourning mourning-of
H60-04 Genesis 50:11 הָ/אֵ֗בֶל haevel HTd/Ncmsa the mourning the mourning
H60-01 Genesis 50:11 אֵֽבֶל evel HNcmsa mourning mourning-of
H60-01 Deuteronomy 34:8 אֵ֥בֶל evel HNcmsc mourning mourning-of
H60-04 2 Samuel 11:27 הָ/אֵ֗בֶל haevel HTd/Ncmsa the mourning the mourning
H60-01 2 Samuel 14:2 אֵ֗בֶל evel HNcmsa mourning mourning-of
H60-06 2 Samuel 19:3 לְ/אֵ֖בֶל leevel HR/Ncmsa to mourning to mourning
H60-03 Isaiah 60:20 אֶבְלֵֽ/ךְ evelekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your mourning your mourning
H60-01 Isaiah 61:3 אֵ֔בֶל evel HNcmsa mourning mourning-of
← H59 Hebrew Lexicon H61 →