חֹבֵל (cho.vel)
cho.vel
pilot
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun cho.vel refers to a sailor or seaman, specifically one engaged in the physical labor of sailing. Its root meaning points to the act of pulling ropes, highlighting that these were not merely officers giving orders but workers who handled the rigging and sails with their own hands.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jonah 1:5, where it describes the crew of the ship caught in the storm. The text notes that the sailors were "each crying out to his god," showing their desperation and varied religious backgrounds as they sought deliverance from the chaos at sea.
By using a term that emphasizes manual labor, the biblical author grounds the story in the reality of ancient maritime work. It reminds readers that the people involved were ordinary workers facing an extraordinary situation, rather than abstract figures in a parable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word cho.vel describes a sailor engaged in hard physical labor, pulling ropes and handling rigging during a storm. In Jonah 1:5, this term highlights the desperate efforts of ordinary workers facing chaos. It reminds us that faith often meets us in the midst of real struggle, not just in calm moments.
When life feels like a storm, remember that God sees your effort and your fear. The sailors cried out to their gods, showing a universal human desire for help. You are never alone in your battles, for God invites you to bring your whole self to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ sailor[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/חֹבֵ֔ל1×
Key Verses
-
Jonah 1:6
So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
This verse shows the ship master confronting Jonah, highlighting the contrast between the sailors' active desperation and Jonah's passive sleep.