יָבָל (ya.val)
ya.val
stream
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yaval refers to a stream or watercourse, specifically one that functions as an irrigation conduit. Unlike natural rain or wild rivers, this word describes water deliberately channeled to sustain crops and vegetation.
Its usage is rare in the Bible, appearing only twice, both times in the book of Isaiah. In these passages, it highlights the contrast between divine provision and human effort, depicting how God supplies life-giving water through established channels to nourish the land.
The term underscores the intentional nature of biblical agriculture. It points to a system where water is guided rather than left to chance, reflecting a broader theme in Isaiah about God’s careful stewardship and the reliability of His sustenance for those who trust in Him.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yaval describes a stream that is deliberately channeled to sustain crops. It is not a wild river left to chance, but water guided with purpose to nourish the land. This image reminds us that God’s provision for our lives is often structured and intentional. He does not leave us to survive on random events or sheer luck.
When we trust in Him, we can rest in the certainty that He supplies what we need. Like a farmer who relies on a steady water source, we are invited to depend on His faithful care. This reliability offers peace, knowing that our spiritual sustenance comes from a source that never runs dry.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- watercourses of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִבְלֵי\־2×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:25
There will be brooks and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
This verse uses yaval to depict God’s abundant provision even in times of judgment, showing that His sustenance remains reliable when circumstances seem chaotic.
-
Isaiah 44:4
and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
Here the word appears in a metaphor for spiritual renewal, suggesting that those who trust God will flourish like plants sustained by a steady, directed water source.