English · KJV
H2881

טָבַל

ṭâbal /taw-bal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto dip, to immerse
KJV usagedip, plunge.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ṭâbal — 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 ṭâbal, represented by H2881, is a primitive root that means to dip, to immerse, or plunge. It appears 16 times across 16 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific but significant role. The action it describes can be mundane, ritualistic, or figurative, involving the immersion of an object or person into a liquid.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H2881 is frequently associated with acts of purification and ritual. Priests would dip a finger or hyssop in blood as part of sacrificial rites (Leviticus 4:6, Exodus 12:22). A central example of its transformative power is Naaman, who dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River and was made clean 2 Kings 5:14. The term is also used in non-ritual contexts, such as Ruth being invited to dip her bread in vinegar Ruth 2:14, Jonathan dipping his rod into a honeycomb 1 Samuel 14:27, or Joseph's brothers dipping his coat in blood to deceive their father Genesis 37:31. Figuratively, it can signify a blessing of abundance, as when Asher is prophesied to dip his foot in oil Deuteronomy 33:24, or of utter defilement, as when Job fears God will plunge him in a ditch Job 9:31.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and consequence of dipping:

  • H2891 ṭâhêr: a primitive root; to be pure or clean. This word describes the result of a ritual dipping, as seen when Naaman dipped H2881 himself and became clean H2891 2 Kings 5:14.
  • H5137 nâzâh: a primitive root; to sprinkle. This action often follows dipping in purification ceremonies, where an object is first dipped H2881 and then used to sprinkle water or blood to sanctify (Leviticus 4:6, Numbers 19:18).
  • H3381 yârad: a primitive root; to descend or go downwards. This word often precedes the act of immersion, describing the physical movement toward the water, such as when Naaman went down H3381 to the Jordan to dip himself 2 Kings 5:14.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H2881 is tied to its role in physical representations of spiritual realities.

  • Ritual Purification: The act of dipping is a cornerstone of the Levitical cleansing system. It is the prescribed method for applying sacrificial blood or purifying water to objects and people, signifying a transition from an unclean to a clean state (Leviticus 14:6, Numbers 19:18).
  • Transformation and Healing: Naaman's healing demonstrates that dipping, when done in obedience to God's word, can bring about miraculous restoration, where his flesh was restored like that of a child 2 Kings 5:14.
  • Covenant Action: At the first Passover, the Israelites were commanded to dip hyssop in the blood of a lamb and apply it to their doorposts, an act of faith that secured their protection from judgment Exodus 12:22.

Summary

In summary, H2881 is a dynamic verb that moves beyond a simple physical action. While it can describe an everyday act like eating, its most profound uses are in the context of ritual and divine encounters. It serves as a physical mechanism for purification, a symbol of covenant obedience, and an illustration of both divine blessing and judgment, showing how a simple immersion can carry immense spiritual weight.

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 verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 8 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.

  • טָבַל
  • יִּטְבֹּל
  • נִטְבְּלוּ
  • יִּטְבְּלוּ
  • טְבַלְתֶּם
  • טָבַלְתְּ
  • תִּטְבְּלֵ
  • טֹבֵל

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.

H2891 טָהֵר a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levit H5137 נָזָה a primitive root; to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (especially in expiation); sprinkle. H3381 יָרַד a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,

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 16 verses across 10 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (6 verses); never once in the other 29.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
6
Leviticus
1
Numbers
1
Deuteronomy
1
Joshua
1
Ruth
1
1 Samuel
2
2 Kings
1
Job

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.