English · KJV
H5014

נָבַב

nâbab /naw-bab'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto pierce; to be hollow, or (figuratively) foolish
KJV usagehollow, vain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâbab — 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 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.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

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.

Related Words & Concepts

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.

Theological Significance

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.

Summary

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.

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 4 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.

  • נָבוּב
  • נְבוּב

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.

H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ from זָבַח; an altar; altar. H5982 עַמּוּד or עַמֻּד; from עָמַד; a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform; [idiom] apiece, pillar. H376 אִישׁ contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male pe H3823 לָבַב a primitive root; properly, to be enclosed (as if with fat); by implication (as denominative from לֵבָב); to unheart;

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 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

2
Exodus
1
Job
1
Jeremiah

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.