English · KJV
H2259

חֹבֵל

chôbêl /kho-bale'/ Ask about this word
Rootactive participle from חָבַל (in the sense of handling ropes)
Meaninga sailor
KJV usagepilot, shipmaster.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chôbêl — 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 chôbêl, represented by H2259, serves as a specific term for a pilot or shipmaster. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from a root word associated with handling ropes, it signifies a skilled mariner with authority and responsibility for navigating a vessel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2259 is used exclusively in maritime contexts. The shipmaster in Jonah confronts the sleeping prophet, urging him to call upon his God to prevent them from perishing Jonah 1:6. In Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyrus, the city's wise men are identified as its pilots Ezekiel 27:8. The complete downfall of Tyrus is illustrated through the loss of its key personnel, including the pilots who fall into the sea Ezekiel 27:27, whose cry of distress shakes the land Ezekiel 27:28, and who ultimately abandon their ships in ruin Ezekiel 27:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of maritime roles and authority:

  • H4419 mallâch (mariner): This term for a general sailor is used alongside H2259 to distinguish the general crew from the skilled pilots, such as in the list of personnel lost in Tyrus's ruin Ezekiel 27:29.
  • H7227 rab (captain, master): Meaning captain or master, this word is combined with H2259 in the book of Jonah to form the title "shipmaster," emphasizing a position of high rank and command over the vessel Jonah 1:6.
  • H7751 shûwṭ (mariner, rower): Defined as a mariner or rower, this word describes the foreign sailors who served Tyrus, working in concert with the city's own wise men who were its pilots H2259 Ezekiel 27:8.

Theological Significance

The significance of H2259 is tied to its role in narratives of divine judgment and human responsibility.

  • Leadership and Authority: The shipmaster H2259 in Jonah represents human authority confronting a crisis, taking command by waking Jonah and urging him to act Jonah 1:6.
  • Symbol of Worldly Prowess: In Ezekiel, the pilots H2259 are equated with the "wise men" of Tyrus, symbolizing the peak of the city's worldly skill, pride, and maritime dominance Ezekiel 27:8.
  • Indicator of Judgment: The downfall of the pilots is a key element in the prophecy against Tyrus. Their demise and cry of anguish signify the complete collapse of the city's strength, leadership, and commercial empire Ezekiel 27:28.

Summary

In summary, H2259 is a specialized term that points to a position of skill and command at sea. It is more than just a label for a sailor; it represents the pinnacle of maritime expertise and leadership within its biblical contexts. Through its use in Jonah and Ezekiel, the word chôbêl illustrates themes of human authority in the face of disaster and serves as a potent symbol for the pride and subsequent judgment of a great seafaring power.

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.

  • חֹבְלָיִ
  • חֹבֵל

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.

H4419 מַלָּח from מָלַח in its second. sense; a sailor (as following 'the salt'); mariner. H7227 רַב by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), H7751 שׁוּט a primitive root; properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by imp

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 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (4 verses); never once in the other 37.

4
Ezekiel
1
Jonah

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.