הָבַל
hâbal · haw-bal'
to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray
Lexicon
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray
- to be vain in act, word, or expectation
- specifically, to lead astray
Definition from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Wording is Strong's own, including his etymological notes, which are not separate meanings.
KJV renderings: be (become, make) vain.
Letters
- הHe5
Picture: a person with both arms raised
- Concrete
- a man calling out · a window · breath
- Extended
- behold! · revelation · to reveal · the (definite article)
- בBet2
Picture: floor plan of a tent or house
- Concrete
- house · tent · dwelling
- Extended
- family · household · what is inside · in
- לLamed30
Picture: shepherd's staff or goad
- Concrete
- staff · goad · yoke · cattle prod
- Extended
- authority · to lead · to teach · to bind · toward
Possible cultural reading (auto-composed)
to reveal, behold › the house, what is within › authority, the one who leads
To reveal, behold of the house, what is within of authority, the one who leads.
Interpretive, not lexical. The dictionary sense of הָבַל above is the attested meaning; this pictographic reading is a tradition about how the sign-shapes may have been heard. Both can be held at once, they are answering different questions.
Usage
5 occurrences · 5 OT · 0 NT · 5 distinct forms
KJV renderings of this word, by how often each one is used.
- and became vain1 · 20%
- vain1 · 20%
- and become not vain1 · 20%
- and are become vain1 · 20%
- unto you: they make you vain1 · 20%
Inflected forms found in the text.
Counts are computed from the tagged Hebrew and Greek text aligned to the King James Version, not from an estimate.