יַבָּל (yab.bel)
yab.bel
running
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 yabbal describes a specific type of physical affliction characterized by discharge or oozing. It refers to a running sore, an ulcer, or the fluid exuding from such a wound. The term is not used for general illness but points to a visible, persistent condition that produces matter.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Leviticus 22:22. In this context, it is part of a list of defects that disqualify an animal from being offered as a sacrifice to God. The presence of yabbal signifies a blemish that renders the creature unsuitable for the altar.
The rarity of the term highlights its specificity. While other words might describe pain or injury, yabbal focuses on the symptom of discharge. Its single occurrence underscores the detailed nature of Holiness Code regulations, where even minor physical irregularities in sacrificial animals were noted with precise language.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yabbal describes a specific physical condition: a festering wound that oozes or discharges fluid. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 22:22, where it joins other defects like blindness or lameness. In this context, it marks an animal as unsuitable for sacrifice to God.
While this law might seem distant from daily life, it reveals a profound truth about holiness. God’s altar was reserved for the best, reflecting His own perfection. The exclusion of yabbal shows that visible blemishes were seen as obstacles to approaching Him in worship. This detail underscores the seriousness with which ancient Israel treated purity and reverence.
For us today, this word reminds us that God desires wholehearted devotion. Just as the physical defect barred an animal from the altar, our hidden struggles or unresolved sins can hinder our fellowship with Him. The call is not to perfection in every moment, but to honesty before God, bringing our brokenness to Him for healing and restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a wart1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יַבֶּ֗לֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 22:22
You shall not offer what is blind, is injured, is maimed, has a wart, is festering, or has a running sore to Yahweh, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to Yahweh.
This verse lists yabbal alongside other physical defects to show that a festering, oozing wound disqualified an animal from being offered as a sacrifice to Yahweh.