חִבֵּל (chib.bel)
chib.bel
mast
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 chibbel appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Proverbs 23:34. In this single context, it is translated as "mast," referring to the upright pole on a ship that supports the sails. The image describes a drunken person stumbling and feeling as though they are being tossed about by waves, clinging to or swaying with the vessel’s structure.
Lexical sources note that the precise meaning of the word is uncertain, though "mast" is the most widely accepted interpretation. Some scholars suggest it may derive from a root implying something corded or roped in place, which would fit the function of a mast secured by rigging. Its rarity makes it a unique vocabulary item, appearing exclusively in this vivid metaphor for disorientation and loss of control.
Translators consistently render it as "mast" to preserve the nautical imagery of the proverb. The verse uses this specific term to contrast the stability of a ship’s structure with the unstable state of the intoxicated individual. This rare word highlights how ancient wisdom literature employed concrete, everyday objects to illustrate spiritual and moral truths.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chibbel appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Proverbs 23:34. It refers to the mast of a ship, a sturdy vertical pole that holds the sails and keeps the vessel upright against the wind. The proverb uses this image to describe the disorienting effect of excessive drinking. Someone who is intoxicated feels as though they are lying on the deck or clinging to the rigging, swaying with every roll of the waves.
This vivid metaphor reminds us that sin often brings a sense of instability and loss of control. When we give in to harmful habits, our minds and spirits can feel tossed about, unable to find solid ground. The contrast between the steady mast and the stumbling person highlights how wisdom offers stability while folly leads to confusion.
Reflecting on this rare word invites us to consider where we might be seeking stability in the wrong places. Instead of clinging to temporary pleasures that leave us unsteady, we can look to God’s wisdom as our anchor. May you find peace in the reliable truths of Scripture, which offer a firm foundation for your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a mast1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִבֵּֽל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 23:34
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
This is the only occurrence of chibbel in the Bible, where it serves as the central metaphor for the disorientation caused by drunkenness.