English · KJV
H5122

נְוָלוּ

nᵉvâlûw /nev-aw-loo'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) or נְוָלִי
Meaning(Aramaic), from an unused root probably meaning to be foul; a sink
KJV usagedunghill.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nᵉvâlûw — 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 Aramaic word nᵉvâlûw, represented by H5122, refers to a dunghill or sink. It comes from a root that suggests something foul. This term appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, exclusively as a symbol of complete ruin and public disgrace.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5122 is consistently used within the context of severe royal decrees. In Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar threatens that the houses of his Chaldeans will be made a dunghill if they fail to interpret his dream Daniel 2:5. Later, after the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he decrees the same fate for anyone who speaks against their God Daniel 3:29. Similarly, in Ezra, King Darius decrees that the house of anyone who alters his command regarding the temple will be made a dunghill Ezra 6:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the context of this severe punishment:

  • H1917 haddâm (piece): This word describes something stamped to pieces. It is used in direct parallel with H5122 as part of the same sentence of judgment, where offenders shall be "cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill" (Daniel 2:5, Daniel 3:29).
  • H5648 ʻăbad (make): This verb, meaning to do or make, is used to enact the punishment. For example, the decree states "let his house be made a dunghill" Ezra 6:11. The word's broader usage includes actions of kings, such as when Nebuchadnezzar "made an image of gold" Daniel 3:1.

Theological Significance

The thematic weight of H5122 is significant in understanding authority and judgment in the narratives of Daniel and Ezra.

  • Symbol of Total Desolation: To have one's house turned into a dunghill was a sentence of ultimate disgrace, wiping out not just the structure but also the family's name and honor.
  • Instrument of Royal Authority: The threat is always issued by a powerful king—Nebuchadnezzar or Darius—to enforce absolute obedience to a decree. It represents the highest form of state-sanctioned punishment (Daniel 2:5, Ezra 6:11).
  • Penalty for Defiance: In every case, this punishment is the stated consequence for failure or disobedience, whether against a king's command or, in a unique turn, against the God of Israel Daniel 3:29.

Summary

In summary, H5122 is more than just a place of refuse; it is a powerful biblical symbol of judgment. Used exclusively in royal threats, it communicates a sentence of complete and shameful destruction. Its appearance in both Daniel and Ezra highlights a shared understanding of this punishment as the ultimate consequence for defying the highest authority, be it a human king or the God he comes to recognize.

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 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • נְוָלִי

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.

H1917 הַדָּם (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of הֲדֹם; something stamped to pieces, i.e. a bit; piece. H5648 עֲבַד (Aramaic) corresponding to עָבַד; to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.; [idiom] cut, do, execute, go on, make, move, work.

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 Daniel (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Ezra
2
Daniel

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.