◄ 1892. hebel ►
Lexicon hebel: Vanity, breath, vapor, futility, emptiness Original Word: הֶבֶל Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: hebel Pronunciation: HEH-bel Phonetic Spelling: (heh'bel) Definition: Vanity, breath, vapor, futility, emptiness Meaning: emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory Strong's Exhaustive Concordance altogether, vain, vanity Or (rarely in the abs.) Habel {hab-ale'}; from habal; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- X altogether, vain, vanity. see HEBREW habal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin a prim. root Definition vapor, breath NASB Translation breath (5), delusion (2), emptily (1), emptiness (2), fleeting (2), fraud (1), futile (1), futility (13), idols (7), mere breath (2), nothing (1), useless (1), vain (3), vainly (1), vanity (19), vanity of vanities (3), vapor (1), worthless (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. הֶ֫בֶל73 noun masculine vapour, breath (Late Hebrew id., Syriac id.) figurative vanity (so Late Hebrew, Syriac ) — הָ֑בֶל Ecclesiastes 1:2 +; construct הֲבֵל Ecclesiastes 1:2 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffix הֶבְלִי etc. Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 9:9 (twice in verse); plural הֲבָלִים Jeremiah 10:8 +; construct הַבְלֵי Jeremiah 8:19 +, suffix הַבְלֵיהֶם Deuteronomy 32:21 +; — 1 literal Isaiah 57:13 all of them (the idols) יִשָּׂארֿוּחַ יִקַּח הָ֑בֶל a breath (ᵑ9 aura) will carry away, Proverbs 21:6 the getting of treasures by a lying tongue is הֶבֶל נִדָּף a vapour driven away. Elsewhere always 2 figurative of what is evanescent, unsubstantial, worthless, vanity, as of idols Jeremiah 10:15 = Jeremiah 51:18; Jeremiah 16:19 הֶבֶל וְאֵין בָּם מוֺעִיל "" (שֶׁקֶרׅ, heathen observances Jeremiah 10:3, and in phrase הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל Jeremiah 2:5; 2 Kings 17:15; Proverbs 13:11 הוֺן מֵהֶבֶל wealth (gotten) out of vanity, (i.e. not by solid toil, opposed to קֹבֵץ עַל יָד) is minished (but ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Ew מְבֹהָל, see Proverbs 20:21 Qr), Proverbs 31:30 שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי, Lamentations 4:17 אֶל עֶזְרָתֵנוּ הֶבֶל to our vain (Dr§ 193 n.) help; of life Job 7:16 כִּי הֶבֶל יָמָֽי׃, Psalm 78:33 וַיְכַל בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם consumed their days as (בְּ I:7 d vanity, man Psalm 39:6; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 62:10 הֶבֶל בְּנֵי אָדָם ֗֗֗ הֵמָּה מֵהֶבֶל יָחַד׃ they are altogether (made) of vanity, Psalm 94:11; Psalm 144:4, especially in Ecclesiastes (31 t. + הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים Ecclesiastes 1:2 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 12:8) of the fruitlessness of all human enterprise and endeavour, Ecclesiastes 1:2 הַכֹּל הֶבֶל, Ecclesiastes 1:14 הַכֹּל הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ all was vanity and the pursuit of wind, Ecclesiastes 2:1,14,15 etc., Ecclesiastes 6:4 (of an abortion) בַּהֶבֶל בָּא i.e. into a lifeless existence, Ecclesiastes 6:11 יֵשׁ דְּבָרִים הַרְבֵּה מַרְבִּים הָ֑בֶל (of discussions leading to no result), note also the phrases יְמֵי (הֶבְלוֺ, הֶבְלְךָ) הֶבְלִי Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 9:9, ׳יְמֵי חַיֵּי ה Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Job 27:12 (see הָבַל), Isaiah 49:4 לְתֹהוּ וָהֶבֶל for nought and vanity have I spent my strength; as adverb accusative vainly, to no purpose Isaiah 30:7 הֶבֶל וָרִיק יַעֲזֹ֑רוּ, Psalm 39:7 אַךְ הֶבֶל יֶהֱמָיוּן they disquiet themselves to no purpose, Job 9:29: הֶבֶל אִיגָָֽע Job 35:16, with נִחַם to comfort Job 21:34; Zechariah 10:2. Plural הֲבָלִים of false gods, Deuteronomy 32:21 ) כִּעֲסוּנִי בְהַבְלֵיהֶם "" בְּלֹאאֵֿל) 1 Kings 16:13,26; Jeremiah 8:19 הַבְלֵי נֵכָר "" (בִּפְסִילֵיהֶםׅ, Jeremiah 10:8; Jeremiah 14:22 הַבְלֵי הַגּוֺיִם, Psalm 31:7 הַשֹּׁמְרִים הַבְלֵישָֿׁוְא empty vanities Jonah 2:9; in more General sense Ecclesiastes 1:2 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 12:8 הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים, Ecclesiastes 5:6. Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from the root verb הָבַל (haval), which means "to be vain" or "to act emptily." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G6: ἄβατος (abatos) • uninhabited, impassable • G1497: εἴδωλον (eidolon) • idol, image • G1601: ἐκπίπτω (ekpipto) • to fall out, to fall off, to fail • G2756: κενός (kenos) • empty, vain, devoid of truth • G3152: ματαιότης (mataiotes) • vanity, futility • G3153: ματαιολογέω (mataiologeo) • to speak foolishly, to talk idly • G3154: ματαιότης (mataiotes) • vanity, emptiness These Greek terms capture similar themes of emptiness, futility, and the transient nature of life and human endeavors, paralleling the Hebrew concept of הֶבֶל (hebel). Usage: The word הֶבֶל (hebel) is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe the ephemeral nature of human endeavors, the futility of idolatry, and the transient nature of life. It is most famously used in the book of Ecclesiastes to express the vanity and fleeting nature of worldly pursuits. Context: The term הֶבֶל (hebel) appears frequently in the Hebrew Scriptures, with a significant concentration in the book of Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher repeatedly declares "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, BSB), using הֶבֶל to emphasize the futility and transient nature of human efforts and achievements when viewed apart from God. The word is also used in the Psalms and the Prophets to describe the futility of idol worship and the fleeting nature of human life. For example, Psalm 39:5 (BSB) states, "Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Truly, each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah." Here, הֶבֶל underscores the brevity and insubstantiality of human existence. In the prophetic literature, הֶבֶל is often associated with idols, as in Jeremiah 10:15 (BSB), "They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish." This usage highlights the emptiness and deception inherent in idolatry. Forms and Transliterations בְּהַבְלֵ֤י בְּהַבְלֵ֥י בְּהַבְלֵיהֶ֑ם בְּהַבְלֵיהֶֽם׃ בַּהֶ֥בֶל בַהֶ֥בֶל בהבל בהבלי בהבליהם בהבליהם׃ הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבֵ֧ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הֲבָלִ֛ים הֲבָלִים֙ הֶ֖בֶל הֶ֙בֶל֙ הֶ֛בֶל הֶ֣בֶל הֶ֥בֶל הֶבְל֖וֹ הֶבְלִ֑י הֶבְלֶ֑ךָ הֶבְלֶ֔ךָ הֶבֶל֮ הַבְלֵי־ הַהֶ֖בֶל הַהֶ֙בֶל֙ הָ֑בֶל הָֽבֶל׃ הבל הבל׃ הבלו הבלי הבלי־ הבלים הבלך ההבל וְהֶ֖בֶל וְהֶ֣בֶל וַהֲבָלִ֔ים והבל והבלים לַהֶ֣בֶל להבל מֵהֶ֣בֶל מֵהֶ֥בֶל מהבל ba·he·ḇel ḇa·he·ḇel baheḇel ḇaheḇel baHevel bə·haḇ·lê bə·haḇ·lê·hem bəhaḇlê bəhaḇlêhem behavLei behavleiHem hă·ḇā·lîm hă·ḇêl hā·ḇel ha·he·ḇel haḇ·lê- hăḇālîm hăḇêl hāḇel haḇlê- haheḇel haHevel havaLim Havel havlei he·ḇel heḇ·le·ḵā heḇ·lî heḇ·lōw heḇel heḇleḵā heḇlî heḇlōw Hevel hevLecha hevLi hevLo la·he·ḇel laheḇel laHevel mê·he·ḇel mêheḇel meHevel vahavaLim vaHevel veHevel wa·hă·ḇā·lîm wahăḇālîm wə·he·ḇel wəheḇel Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:21 HEB: אֵ֔ל כִּעֲס֖וּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ אַקְנִיאֵ֣ם NAS: Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous KJV: they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy INT: God have provoked their idols Me jealous 1 Kings 16:13 HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּהַבְלֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: of Israel to anger with their idols. KJV: to anger with their vanities. INT: God of Israel their idols 1 Kings 16:26 HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּהַבְלֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: God of Israel with their idols. KJV: to anger with their vanities. INT: God of Israel their idols 2 Kings 17:15 HEB: וַיֵּ֨לְכוּ֜ אַחֲרֵ֤י הַהֶ֙בֶל֙ וַיֶּהְבָּ֔לוּ וְאַחֲרֵ֤י NAS: them. And they followed vanity and became vain, KJV: against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, INT: along and after vanity and became and after Job 7:16 HEB: מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי כִּי־ הֶ֥בֶל יָמָֽי׃ NAS: for my days are [but] a breath. KJV: for my days [are] vanity. INT: alone for are a breath my days Job 9:29 HEB: לָמָּה־ זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל אִיגָֽע׃ NAS: then should I toil in vain? KJV: why then labour I in vain? INT: Why then altogether toil Job 21:34 HEB: וְ֭אֵיךְ תְּנַחֲמ֣וּנִי הָ֑בֶל וּ֝תְשֽׁוּבֹתֵיכֶ֗ם נִשְׁאַר־ NAS: How then will you vainly comfort KJV: How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers INT: How comfort vainly your answers remain Job 27:12 HEB: וְלָמָּה־ זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל תֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃ KJV: Behold, all ye yourselves have seen [it]; why then are ye thus altogether vain? INT: Why then altogether act Job 35:16 HEB: וְ֭אִיּוֹב הֶ֣בֶל יִפְצֶה־ פִּ֑יהוּ NAS: his mouth emptily; He multiplies KJV: his mouth in vain; he multiplieth INT: Job emptily opens his mouth Psalm 31:6 HEB: שָׂנֵ֗אתִי הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־ שָׁ֑וְא וַ֝אֲנִ֗י NAS: vain idols, But I trust KJV: lying vanities: but I trust INT: hate regard idols vain I Psalm 39:5 HEB: אַ֥ךְ כָּֽל־ הֶ֥בֶל כָּל־ אָ֝דָ֗ם NAS: at his best is a mere breath. Selah. KJV: [is] altogether vanity. Selah. INT: Surely every breath mere man Psalm 39:6 HEB: אִ֗ישׁ אַךְ־ הֶ֥בֶל יֶהֱמָי֑וּן יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר NAS: they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses KJV: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up INT: every Surely nothing make amasses Psalm 39:11 HEB: חֲמוּד֑וֹ אַ֤ךְ הֶ֖בֶל כָּל־ אָדָ֣ם NAS: every man is a mere breath. Selah. KJV: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah. INT: is precious Surely mere every man Psalm 62:9 HEB: אַ֤ךְ ׀ הֶ֥בֶל בְּנֵֽי־ אָדָם֮ NAS: degree are only vanity and men of rank KJV: Surely men of low degree [are] vanity, [and] men INT: are only vanity afflicted man Psalm 62:9 HEB: לַעֲל֑וֹת הֵ֝֗מָּה מֵהֶ֥בֶל יָֽחַד׃ NAS: lighter than breath. KJV: they [are] altogether [lighter] than vanity. INT: go like breath are together Psalm 78:33 HEB: וַיְכַל־ בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם NAS: to an end in futility And their years KJV: did he consume in vanity, and their years INT: brought futility their days and their years Psalm 94:11 HEB: כִּי־ הֵ֥מָּה הָֽבֶל׃ NAS: of man, That they are a [mere] breath. KJV: of man, that they [are] vanity. INT: for they are a breath Psalm 144:4 HEB: אָ֭דָם לַהֶ֣בֶל דָּמָ֑ה יָ֝מָ֗יו NAS: is like a mere breath; His days KJV: is like to vanity: his days INT: Man A mere is like his days Proverbs 13:11 HEB: ה֭וֹן מֵהֶ֣בֶל יִמְעָ֑ט וְקֹבֵ֖ץ NAS: Wealth [obtained] by fraud dwindles, KJV: Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: INT: Wealth fraud dwindles gathers Proverbs 21:6 HEB: בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־ NAS: Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit KJV: tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of INT: tongue A lying vapor fleeting the pursuit Proverbs 31:30 HEB: שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה NAS: and beauty is vain, [But] a woman KJV: and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman INT: is deceitful Charm is vain and beauty a woman Ecclesiastes 1:2 HEB: הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר NAS: Vanity of vanities, says KJV: Vanity of vanities, saith INT: Vanity of vanities says Ecclesiastes 1:2 HEB: הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת NAS: Vanity of vanities, says KJV: Vanity of vanities, saith INT: Vanity of vanities says the Preacher Ecclesiastes 1:2 HEB: אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל NAS: the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! KJV: the Preacher, vanity of vanities; INT: says the Preacher Vanity of vanities All Ecclesiastes 1:2 HEB: קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃ NAS: Vanity of vanities! All KJV: vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. INT: the Preacher Vanity of vanities All is vanity 73 Occurrences Strong's Hebrew 1892 73 Occurrences ba·he·ḇel — 1 Occ. bə·haḇ·lê — 2 Occ. bə·haḇ·lê·hem — 3 Occ. ha·he·ḇel — 2 Occ. hă·ḇā·lîm — 4 Occ. hā·ḇel — 20 Occ. haḇ·lê- — 2 Occ. he·ḇel — 28 Occ. heḇ·le·ḵā — 2 Occ. heḇ·lî — 1 Occ. heḇ·lōw — 1 Occ. la·he·ḇel — 1 Occ. mê·he·ḇel — 2 Occ. wa·hă·ḇā·lîm — 1 Occ. ḇa·he·ḇel — 1 Occ. wə·he·ḇel — 2 Occ.