English · KJV
H1891

הָבַל

hâbal /haw-bal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray
KJV usagebe (become, make) vain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of hâbal — 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 root hâbal, represented by H1891, is a primitive root defined as to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray; be (become, make) vain. This word, which appears 5 times across 5 unique verses, describes the process of being led into or becoming spiritually empty and futile.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H1891 describes the state that results from turning away from God. It is frequently paired with the noun for "vanity" H1892, illustrating a direct cause and effect; the people of Israel "followed vanity H1892, and became vain H1891" 2 Kings 17:15. This occurred after they rejected God's statutes and covenant. Jeremiah echoes this, asking why the fathers went far from God, "and have walked after vanity H1892, and are become vain H1891?" Jeremiah 2:5. The term is also used to describe the effect of false prophets who "make you vain" by speaking a vision from their own hearts instead of from the LORD Jeremiah 23:16. It serves as a warning not to "become not vain in robbery" Psalms 62:10, linking the state to misplaced trust in unjust gain.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help contextualize the concept of becoming vain:

  • H1892 hebel (emptiness or vanity): This noun form represents the worthless substance or idea that one pursues. Following it is the direct cause of the action of H1891, as seen when the people "followed vanity H1892, and became vain H1891" 2 Kings 17:15.
  • H3988 mâʼaç (to spurn; reject): This action precipitates the state of becoming vain. It was after Israel "rejected H3988 his statutes" that they became vain 2 Kings 17:15.
  • H5012 nâbâʼ (to prophesy): When this action is performed falsely, it becomes a mechanism for leading people into vanity. God warns against prophets whose false prophesying will "make you vain" Jeremiah 23:16.
  • H3212 yâlak (to walk): This word often describes a way of life. The act of becoming vain is tied to how one lives, specifically to having "walked H3212 after vanity" Jeremiah 2:5.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H1891 is a warning against spiritual decay.

  • The Consequence of Rejection: To "become vain" is presented as the direct spiritual result of rejecting God's covenant and testimonies. It is not a random state but a consequence of active disobedience 2 Kings 17:15.
  • The Danger of False Teaching: The term highlights the destructive power of guidance that does not originate from God. False prophets lead people into a state of vanity by speaking visions "of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD" Jeremiah 23:16.
  • The Futility of Misplaced Trust: The act of becoming vain is tied to where one places value and trust. The warning not to become vain in robbery suggests that reliance on anything apart from God, such as unjust riches, leads to an empty and futile existence Psalms 62:10.

Summary

In summary, H1891 hâbal conveys more than simple emptiness; it describes the active process of becoming futile and spiritually void. It stands as a biblical caution that when people reject God's revealed will, follow human-centric guidance, or walk after worthless things, the inevitable result is that they themselves "become vain." It captures the essence of a life that has strayed from its true source of meaning and purpose.

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 5 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • יֶּהְבָּלוּ
  • תֶּהְבָּלוּ
  • מַהְבִּלִים

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.

H1892 הֶבֶל or (rarely in the abs.) הֲבֵל; from הָבַל; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; o H3988 מָאַס a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear; abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (beco H5012 נָבָא a primitive root; to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse); prophesy(-ing), H3212 יָלַךְ a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idio

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
2 Kings
1
Job
1
Psalms
2
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.