בּוּל (bul)
bul
produce
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun bul refers to the physical produce or outgrowth of the land. It describes the tangible yield that results from agricultural labor, capturing the fruitfulness of the earth in a concrete, material sense.
This term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within poetic and prophetic literature. In Job 24:6, it denotes the harvested crop that the poor gather, highlighting the economic reality of food production. Isaiah 17:10 uses it to describe the failure of crops when people forget their Maker, linking agricultural success directly to spiritual fidelity.
Lexical sources note that bul is likely a shortened or scribal variant of yebul, which carries the same meaning. Its rarity in Scripture gives these few occurrences significant weight, as they anchor abstract concepts of blessing and judgment in the everyday experience of farming and harvest.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bul points to the tangible results of labor and the natural yield of the earth. It reminds us that our daily sustenance is not an accident but a gift rooted in the physical world. When we see crops grow or harvest come in, we are witnessing the concrete outcome of God’s provision for creation.
This term appears in Job 40:20, where the mountains produce food for the wild animals. It shows that God cares for all living things, providing for them even when they cannot offer anything in return. This reality invites us to trust that our Creator also provides for our needs, just as He supplies the fields with their harvest.
Remembering this connection between the land and its produce can ground your faith in everyday life. It encourages gratitude for simple meals and a recognition of God’s hand in the seasons of growth and rest.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ a product of1×
- [the] beast[s] of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/ב֥וּל1×
- ב֭וּל1×
Key Verses
-
Job 40:20
Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
This verse uses the word to describe how the mountains provide food for animals, showing God's care for all creation.