Strong's Hebrew: 57. אָבֵל (abel) -- Mourning, lamentation
Strong's Lexicon
abel: Mourning, lamentation
Original Word: אָבֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: abel
Pronunciation: ah-vel
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale')
Definition: Mourning, lamentation
Meaning: lamenting
Word Origin: Derived from the root אָבַל (aval), meaning "to mourn" or "to lament."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3997 (πένθος, penthos) - mourning, grief
- G2354 (θρῆνος, thrēnos) - lamentation, dirge
Usage: The Hebrew word "abel" primarily refers to mourning or lamentation, often in the context of expressing grief over death or calamity. It is used to describe both the act of mourning and the state of being in mourning. This term is frequently associated with the cultural practices surrounding death and loss in ancient Israel.
Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, mourning was a significant communal and religious practice. It involved various rituals, such as wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes, fasting, and wailing. Mourning was not only a personal expression of grief but also a communal event that reinforced social bonds and religious beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife. The practice of mourning was deeply embedded in the fabric of Israelite society, reflecting their understanding of human suffering and divine compassion.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from abal
Definition
mourning
NASB Translation
mourn (2), mourners (2), mourning (3), one who sorrows (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. אָבֵל adjective mourning — ׳א Genesis 37:35; Esther 6:12; construct אֲבֶלֿ Psalm 35:14; אֲבֵלִים Job 29:25; Isaiah 61:2 etc.; — for dead Genesis 37:35, calamity Esther 6:12, compare figurative Lamentations 1:4 (predicate, inanimate subject), elsewhere as substantive mourner; singular Psalm 35:14 (construct) for dead ("" קדר); plural Job 29:25 absolute; for calamity Isaiah 57:18; Isaiah 61:2,3(where mourners for Zion, or of Zion, see Di).
II. אבל (perhaps 
grow green, compare 
grass; LagBN 45 proposes 
withstand, hence אָבֵל as withstanding scorching sun (protected by trees, springs, etc.), hence also (Lag) 
camel). Etymologogical conjectures very dubious; connection (Lag.) of 
withstand, with 
herbage, forage (sometimes dry) improbable, and of latter with 
herd of camels obscure; √ meaning grow green unattested; Syriac 
, 
, Talmud יַבְלָא, Punic ιεβαλ, 'grass,' apparently = a specific kind of fodder, ἄγρωστις, see LöwNo. 141 (GFM, privately).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
mourner,
From 'abal; lamenting -- mourn(-er, -ing).
see HEBREW 'abal
Forms and Transliterations
אֲבֵל֗וֹת אֲבֵלִ֣ים אֲבֵלִֽים׃ אָבֵ֖ל אבל אבלות אבלים אבלים׃ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃ ולאבליו׃ כַּאֲבֶל־ כאבל־ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י לאבלי ’ă·ḇê·lîm ’ă·ḇê·lō·wṯ ’ā·ḇêl ’āḇêl ’ăḇêlîm ’ăḇêlōwṯ aVel aveLim aveLot ka’ăḇel- ka·’ă·ḇel- kaavel la’ăḇêlê la·’ă·ḇê·lê laaveLei velaaveLav wə·la·’ă·ḇê·lāw wəla’ăḇêlāw
Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 37:35
HEB: אֶל־ בְּנִ֛י אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ
NAS: to Sheol in mourning for my son.
KJV: unto my son mourning. Thus his father
INT: about my son mourning to Sheol wept
Esther 6:12
HEB: אֶל־ בֵּית֔וֹ אָבֵ֖ל וַחֲפ֥וּי רֹֽאשׁ׃
NAS: home, mourning, with [his] head
KJV: to his house mourning, and having his head
INT: about home mourning covered with head
Job 29:25
HEB: בַּגְּד֑וּד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲבֵלִ֣ים יְנַחֵֽם׃
NAS: As one who comforted the mourners.
KJV: as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
INT: the troops after mourners comforted
Psalm 35:14
HEB: לִ֭י הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי כַּאֲבֶל־ אֵ֝֗ם קֹדֵ֥ר
NAS: mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
KJV: heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.
INT: brother went one A mother mourning
Isaiah 57:18
HEB: נִֽחֻמִ֛ים ל֖וֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃
NAS: comfort to him and to his mourners,
KJV: comforts unto him and to his mourners.
INT: and restore comfort his mourners
Isaiah 61:2
HEB: לְנַחֵ֖ם כָּל־ אֲבֵלִֽים׃
NAS: To comfort all who mourn,
KJV: of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
INT: to comfort all mourn
Isaiah 61:3
HEB: לָשׂ֣וּם ׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩
NAS: To grant those who mourn [in] Zion,
KJV: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
INT: to grant mourn Zion Giving
Lamentations 1:4
HEB: דַּרְכֵ֨י צִיּ֜וֹן אֲבֵל֗וֹת מִבְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣י
NAS: of Zion are in mourning Because
KJV: of Zion do mourn, because none come
INT: the roads of Zion mourning no comes