נָבֵל

nâbêl /naw-bale'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace
KJV usagedisgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, make vile, wither.
Idioms & phrasesidiom surely
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâbêl, represented by H5034, describes a state of decay and disgrace. It appears 25 times across 21 unique verses, conveying meanings that range from the literal "to wilt" to the figurative "to be foolish" or "dishonour." This word powerfully connects the physical process of fading and failing with moral and spiritual wickedness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H5034 is used to illustrate both natural and moral decline. It frequently describes the ephemeral nature of plant life, such as a leaf that fades Isaiah 1:30 or a flower that fadeth Isaiah 40:8. On a cosmic scale, it depicts the host of heaven as they fall down like a leaf from a vine Isaiah 34:4. Figuratively, it is used to describe acts of foolish rebellion, as when Jeshurun lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation Deuteronomy 32:15, or when a son dishonoureth his father Micah 7:6. It can also signify the consequence of a heavy burden, as when Jethro warns Moses that he will surely wear away Exodus 18:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Hebrew words help to clarify the meaning of H5034:

  • H3001 yâbêsh: Meaning to dry up or wither, this word is often used in parallel with H5034 to emphasize the frailty of the natural world, as seen in the statement, "The grass withereth H3001, the flower fadeth H5034" Isaiah 40:8.
  • H5307 nâphal: A root meaning to fall, this term is linked to the outcome of H5034. In Job, a falling H5307 mountain is one that "cometh to nought H5034," connecting physical collapse with utter failure Job 14:18.
  • H5006 nâʼats: This word for to scorn or abhor highlights the sense of disgrace associated with H5034. In his plea to God, Jeremiah asks Him not to abhor H5006 His people or disgrace H5034 His glorious throne Jeremiah 14:21.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H5034 is profound, often used to contrast the fleeting with the eternal.

  • The Enduring Word vs. the Fading World: A central theme is the contrast between the impermanence of creation, where the flower fadeth H5034, and the eternal nature of God's word, which "shall stand for ever" Isaiah 40:8.
  • The Fruit of Righteousness: The state of not fading is a mark of divine blessing. The righteous man is like a tree whose leaf "shall not wither" Psalms 1:3, and the trees nourished by the sanctuary's waters have a leaf that "shall not fade" Ezekiel 47:12.
  • The Consequence of Sin: Turning away from God is depicted as a form of foolishness and decay. Israel's iniquities cause them to fade H5034 like a leaf Isaiah 64:6, and the whole earth fadeth away H5034 under the weight of its haughty people Isaiah 24:4.

Summary

In summary, H5034 is more than just a word for wilting. It serves as a biblical metaphor for physical impermanence, moral foolishness, and spiritual disgrace. From a fading flower to a dishonorable act, nâbêl illustrates the inevitable decay that occurs when something is separated from its life source. It powerfully contrasts the transient nature of a fallen world with the steadfast, life-giving power of God and His eternal promises.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 25 occurrences, inflected in 16 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×

+ 4 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 21 verses across 11 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (8 verses).

1
Exodus
1
Deuteronomy
1
2 Samuel
1
Job
3
Psalms
1
Proverbs
8
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Micah
1
Nahum

Verse Explorer

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