אֵ֫בֶל (e.vel)
e.vel
mourning
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ebel denotes the deep sorrow associated with mourning, particularly for the dead. It describes both the internal grief and the external expressions of loss, such as wearing specific garments or observing a set period of lamentation. In Scripture, this word often appears in contexts where communal or personal tragedy is marked by visible signs of distress.
A striking example occurs in Amos 8:10, where God declares that festivals will be turned into ebel, likening the nation’s joy to the wailing cry of an ostrich. This metaphor highlights how sudden disaster can invert celebration into profound grief. The term also covers formal rites, as seen when Jacob mourns for Joseph or when Esther establishes a day of fasting and weeping.
Derived from the verb abal, meaning to mourn or lament, ebel carries the weight of sustained sorrow rather than fleeting sadness. It reflects a cultural reality where grief was public and ritualized, serving as a tangible acknowledgment of life’s fragility and the depth of human attachment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ebel captures the full weight of human grief, encompassing both the internal ache of loss and the visible signs we wear when our hearts are broken. In ancient Israel, mourning was not a private affair but a communal rhythm, marked by sackcloth, fasting, and specific periods of lamentation. This practice acknowledged that death is a profound rupture in life, demanding space for sorrow rather than quick fixes or superficial comfort.
Yet Scripture does not leave us in this darkness. The same God who allows for deep ebel also promises to turn it into joy. In Isaiah 61:3, the prophet speaks of exchanging ashes for a garland and mourning for praise. This is not a dismissal of pain but a promise that grief is not the final word. Your tears are seen, and there is hope beyond the valley of shadow.
When you face loss, it is okay to grieve deeply. The biblical figures we admire also mourned openly. You do not need to hide your sorrow or pretend to be strong. Instead, bring your honest grief to God, knowing that He is close to the brokenhearted and that He will eventually wipe away every tear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mourning8×
- [the] mourning of3×
- the/ mourning2×
- into/ mourning2×
- mourning/ your1×
- mourning/ their1×
- like/ [the] mourning of1×
- and/ from/ mourning1×
- and/ a mourning1×
- [is] mourning1×
- <into>/ mourning1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֵ֔בֶל3×
- הָ/אֵ֗בֶל2×
- אֵ֤בֶל2×
- אֵ֗בֶל2×
- אֵ֖בֶל2×
- לְ֭/אֵבֶל1×
- לְ/אֵ֗בֶל1×
- לְ/אֵ֖בֶל1×
- כְּ/אֵ֣בֶל1×
- וּ/מֵ/אֵ֖בֶל1×
- וְ/אֵ֖בֶל1×
- אֶבְלָ֤/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 61:3
to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
This verse offers the most direct promise of transformation, where God explicitly exchanges mourning for joy and praise.
-
Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.
It reframes the house of mourning as a place of wisdom, suggesting that facing death helps the living understand life better.
-
Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will make you wear sackcloth on all your bodies, and baldness on every head. I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and its end like a bitter day.
This striking metaphor shows how divine judgment can invert national celebration into profound, communal grief.
-
Jeremiah 31:13
Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Here God promises to actively turn mourning into joy, highlighting His role as the comforter of His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ebel mean in the Bible?
How is ebel different from simple sadness?
Does the Bible encourage us to mourn?
Every Occurrence (20 verses across 11 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of…
Genesis 50:10They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and…
Genesis 50:11When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous…