English · KJV
H4002

מַבּוּעַ

mabbûwaʻ /mab-boo'-ah/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom נָבַע
Meaninga fountain
KJV usagefountain, spring.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mabbûwaʻ — 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 mabbûwaʻ, represented by H4002, refers to a fountain or spring. It is derived from a word meaning to gush forth. Appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses, its usage, though rare, carries significant weight, often symbolizing a source of life and divine provision.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, H4002 is used both literally and metaphorically to depict a source of life-giving water. In Ecclesiastes, it is part of an allegory for the frailty of life, where a "pitcher be broken at the fountain" signifies the end of vitality Ecclesiastes 12:6. Prophetically, Isaiah uses the term to illustrate God's mercy and restorative power. God promises to guide his people "by the springs of water" so they will not thirst Isaiah 49:10, and he declares that "the thirsty land" will become "springs of water" Isaiah 35:7, symbolizing a miraculous transformation from desolation to abundance.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the environment and function of a fountain:

  • H6774 tsimmâʼôwn (thirsty land): This term describes "a thirsty place, i.e. desert." It establishes the barren context which is dramatically transformed by the emergence of springs of water Isaiah 35:7.
  • H4325 mayim (water): As the substance that flows from a spring, water is intrinsically linked to H4002. The promise is not just of a spring, but of "springs of water," emphasizing the fulfillment of a vital need Isaiah 49:10.
  • H953 bôwr (cistern): This word for a "pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)" is used in parallel with fountain in Ecclesiastes 12:6. It provides a contrast between a man-made reservoir for storing water and a natural, gushing spring.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4002 is centered on God as the ultimate source of life and restoration.

  • Divine Provision: In Isaiah, springs are a direct result of God's merciful intervention. He leads his people to them to relieve their thirst Isaiah 49:10 and causes them to appear in the desert, demonstrating his power to provide supernaturally.
  • Miraculous Restoration: The transformation of a thirsty land H6774 into springs H4002 serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual renewal and the reversal of desolation, turning a place of death into one of life Isaiah 35:7.
  • Source of Life's Vitality: Ecclesiastes employs the fountain as a symbol for the very source of human life. The image of the broken pitcher at the fountain represents the cessation of life, highlighting the dependence on a continuous, external source for existence Ecclesiastes 12:6.

Summary

In summary, H4002 is a potent and focused term. While its base meaning is a simple fountain or spring, its few appearances in Scripture elevate it to a symbol of divine grace. It represents God's power to provide, restore, and sustain, transforming barrenness into abundance and serving as a metaphor for the very wellspring of life itself.

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 3 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.

  • מַבּוּעֵי
  • מַּבּוּעַ

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.

H6774 צִמָּאוֹן from צָמֵא; a thirsty place, i.e. desert; drought, dry ground, thirsty land. H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H953 בּוֹר from בּוּר (in the sense of בֹּאר); a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison); cistern, dungeon, fountai

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Ecclesiastes
2
Isaiah

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.