The Hebrew word nâbab, represented by H5014, describes a state of being hollow. It appears 4 times in 4 unique verses in the Bible. The term is used both literally to describe physical objects that are empty inside, and figuratively to characterize a person as foolish or vain.
In its biblical usage, H5014 carries two distinct applications. Literally, it details the construction of key items for the tabernacle and temple. The altar was to be made hollow with boards (Exodus 27:8, Exodus 38:7), as were the great pillars described in Jeremiah, which were noted to be hollow despite their immense size Jeremiah 52:21. Figuratively, the word is used in Job to describe a vain man, one who is empty of wisdom, comparing him to a "wild ass's colt" Job 11:12.
Several related words help frame the literal and figurative contexts of being hollow:
- H4196 mizbêach (altar): This is a central object of worship that was specifically constructed to be hollow with boards, as commanded by God Exodus 38:7.
- H5982 ʻammûwd (pillar): The massive pillars detailed in Jeremiah were described as hollow H5014, emphasizing a structural characteristic of these important architectural elements Jeremiah 52:21.
- H376 ʼîysh (man): This word is directly linked to the figurative meaning of H5014, identifying the kind of person who is considered vain or foolish Job 11:12.
- H3823 lâbab (be wise): This term highlights what the vain H5014 man lacks. The scripture notes that a vain man would be wise, suggesting an empty desire for something he does not possess Job 11:12.
The theological weight of H5014 is found in its contrast between divinely purposed emptiness and human spiritual vanity.
- Purposeful Hollowness: The command to make the altar hollow Exodus 27:8 and the description of the temple pillars as such Jeremiah 52:21 suggest that their value and holiness came not from their material substance but from their divine purpose and dedication to God.
- Human Emptiness: In contrast, a person who is hollow or vain is seen as foolish and without substance. Job 11:12 characterizes this individual as being born with the untamed and ignorant nature of a "wild ass's colt."
- Wisdom vs. Vanity: The term starkly separates God's design from human failing. While God can ordain physical hollowness for a sacred function, a person who is intellectually and morally hollow is deemed vain and foolish.
In summary, H5014 is a word that moves from a simple physical description to a profound spiritual condition. It applies literally to the construction of sacred objects like the altar and pillars, but also serves as a potent metaphor for the man who is foolish and empty of true wisdom. The word illustrates how a state of being hollow can either be an element of divine design or a mark of human folly.
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