English · KJV
H2073

זְבוּל

zᵉbûwl /ze-bool'/ Ask about this word
Rootor זְבֻל · from זָבַל
Meaninga residence
KJV usagedwell in, dwelling, habitation.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zᵉbûwl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word zᵉbûwl, represented by H2073, refers to a residence; dwell in, dwelling, habitation. It is a specific term that appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, consistently pointing to a significant or established dwelling place.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural usage, H2073 designates both earthly and heavenly abodes of great importance. Solomon uses the word to describe the temple he constructed, declaring, "I have surely built thee an house to dwell in" 1 Kings 8:13 and an "house of habitation for thee" 2 Chronicles 6:2. The term is also applied to the celestial realm, as Isaiah implores God to "Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness" Isaiah 63:15. In a different context, the grave is referred to as a final dwelling from which beauty will be consumed Psalms 49:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of a dwelling place:

  • H1004 bayith (a house): This common term for a house is used in direct parallel with H2073 when describing the temple Solomon built for the Lord 1 Kings 8:13. It can refer to a physical structure or a family unit.
  • H3427 yâshab (to dwell, to remain): As a verb, this word describes the act of abiding or remaining in a place. It is used alongside H2073 to emphasize the permanence of the temple as a place for God "to abide in for ever" 1 Kings 8:13.
  • H4349 mâkôwn (a place, especially as an abode; habitation): This noun is also used in conjunction with H2073 to describe the temple as a "settled place" 1 Kings 8:13. It often refers to a foundation or a fixed abode, such as God's throne Psalms 97:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2073 is tied to its use in describing places of divine and ultimate significance.

  • The Temple as God's Earthly Habitation: The term is explicitly used to consecrate the temple in Jerusalem as a special residence for God, a "house of habitation" 2 Chronicles 6:2 and a place for Him to dwell.
  • The Heavenly Abode: H2073 elevates the concept of a dwelling to God's own residence in heaven, described as the "habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory" Isaiah 63:15, a place of ultimate sanctity and majesty.
  • Cosmic and Final Dwellings: The word's scope extends to the cosmos, where the sun and moon have their "habitation" Habakkuk 3:11, and to the finality of human life, where the grave becomes the "dwelling" for the dead Psalms 49:14.

Summary

In summary, H2073 is a powerful and specific word for a significant dwelling. Though used sparingly, it carries immense weight by denoting the most important residences in the biblical worldview: the temple built for God on earth, the glorious habitation of God in the heavens, and the ultimate habitation of humanity in the grave. It consistently points to a place of fixed and profound importance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 5 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • זְבֻל
  • זְּבֻל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1004 בַּיִת probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, d H3427 יָשַׁב a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remai H4349 מָכוֹן from כּוּן; properly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a place, especially as an abode; foundation, habitation, (dwell

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 5 of the 39 books. 5 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 34.

1
1 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah
1
Habakkuk

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.