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קָבַל

𐤒𐤁𐤋

qâbal

H6901 verb

SILEX Entry

Root קבל to receive, to accept, to take (from another)

Definition

To receive or accept something offered, given, or communicated—whether physically (such as objects, messages, offerings) or more abstractly (such as news, instruction, or responsibility). The root can also carry the sense of taking possession, taking up, or accepting onto oneself a charge or duty. In some contexts it extends to the act of meeting or confronting someone or something.

Semantic Range

to receive an object or message, to accept a charge or responsibility, to take up an assignment, to undertake, to accept communal regulations, to formally acknowledge or approve

Root / Etymology

Root: קבל. The root meaning is 'to receive, accept.' The verb קָבַל is derived directly from this root and consistently carries the notion of receiving or accepting, whether concretely or abstractly. There is no evidence of significant semantic drift from the root meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, קָבַל most frequently describes the action of knowingly accepting or taking something into one's possession, such as receiving gifts, silver (Ezra 8:30), messages (2 Samuel 4:10), or instruction. At times, especially in the later books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther), the term is used in administrative, liturgical, or diplomatic contexts, highlighting the formal acceptance of assignments or responsibilities. Unlike לָקַח (laqach, 'to take'), קָבַל generally emphasizes the receipt of something offered or given rather than the act of taking by force or initiative. In the book of Esther, קָבַל is used to describe the acceptance and establishment of new community customs (Esther 9:23, 9:27), an extension into communal and legal-religious context. In Aramaic, the parallel verb קְבַל is similarly used in post-exilic texts for both physical and non-physical reception. English translations often render it 'receive,' 'accept,' or 'undertake,' sometimes missing the nuance of formal or communal acceptance, especially in post-exilic administrative contexts. The term does not have a specifically cultic or ritual sense in the First Temple period, but is more prominent in the administrative and communal language of the Second Temple and Persian period texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to admit, i.e. take (literally or figuratively); choose, (take) hold, receive, (under-) take.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קבל (q-b-l) — receive, accept, take from another

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6902 קְבַל he accepted
H6903 קְבֵל in front of
H6904 קֹבֶל his battering-ram
H6905 קָבָל front-of

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6901-09 וְ/קִבְּל֣וּ veqibelu HC/Vpp3cp and accepted and they accepted 2
H6901-06 וַֽ/יְקַבְּלוּ֙ vayeqabelu HC/Vpw3mp and the Levites received and they accepted 2
H6901-01 מַקְבִּילֹת֙ maqebilot HVhrfpa opposite those causing to receive 2
H6901-02 נְקַבֵּל֙ neqabel HVpi1cp we-receive we will accept 2
H6901-10 ו/קבל vqvl HC/Vpp3ms and took and he accepted 1
H6901-03 קַבֶּל qabel HVpv2ms take he accepted 1
H6901-07 וְ/קַבֵּ֣ל veqabel HC/Vpv2ms and receive and accept 1
H6901-05 וַ/יְקַבְּלֵ֣/ם vayeqabelem HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp and received them and he received them 1
H6901-08 וְ/קִבֵּל֙ veqibel HC/Vpp3ms and-accepted and he accepted 1
H6901-04 קִבֵּֽל qibel HVpp3ms he accepted he accepted 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6901-01 Exodus 26:5 מַקְבִּילֹת֙ maqebilot HVhrfpa opposite those causing to receive
H6901-01 Exodus 36:12 מַקְבִּילֹת֙ maqebilot HVhrfpa corresponding those causing to receive
H6901-07 Proverbs 19:20 וְ/קַבֵּ֣ל veqabel HC/Vpv2ms and receive and accept
H6901-02 Job 2:10 נְקַבֵּל֙ neqabel HVpi1cp we-receive we will accept
H6901-02 Job 2:10 נְקַבֵּ֑ל neqabel-2 HVpi1cp we-receive we will accept
H6901-04 Esther 4:4 קִבֵּֽל qibel HVpp3ms he accepted he accepted
H6901-08 Esther 9:23 וְ/קִבֵּל֙ veqibel HC/Vpp3ms and-accepted and he accepted
H6901-10 Esther 9:27 ו/קבל vqvl HC/Vpp3ms and took and he accepted
H6901-09 Esther 9:27 וְ/קִבְּל֣וּ veqibelu HC/Vpp3cp and accepted and they accepted
H6901-09 Ezra 8:30 וְ/קִבְּלוּ֙ veqibelu HC/Vpp3cp and they received and they accepted
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