בּוּל
produce (of the earth, etc.)
Definition
The Hebrew noun בּוּל (bûwl) refers to the produce or yield of the earth, specifically the food or fodder that sustains life. In its two biblical occurrences, it denotes the provision of food from the land. In Job 40:20, it describes the 'produce of the mountains' as food for the behemoth, emphasizing God's provision in the wild. In Isaiah 44:19, it is used ironically of a man who takes part of a tree's wood, warms himself with it, and then bows to an idol made from the remainder, asking, 'Shall I fall down before a block of wood?'—here, the 'produce' or 'stock' of the tree is misused for idolatry, contrasting true sustenance with false worship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic contexts. In Job 40:20, it appears in God's description of the behemoth's habitat, highlighting the natural provision of food from the mountains. In Isaiah 44:19, it is part of a prophetic satire against idolatry, where the 'produce' of a tree is split between practical use (fuel) and foolish worship (an idol). The usage patterns show it as a term for earthly produce, employed to contrast divine provision with human folly.
Etymology
בּוּל (bûwl) is a byform or variant of the more common Hebrew word יְבוּל (yᵉbûwl, H2981), which also means 'produce' or 'fruit.' Both derive from the root יבל (y-b-l), meaning 'to bring, carry, or produce,' often associated with bearing fruit or yielding a harvest. This etymological connection places בּוּל within the semantic field of agricultural yield and provision.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun for 'produce,' בּוּל carries theological weight in its contexts. In Job 40:20, it underscores God's sovereign care in providing for all creatures, even the mighty behemoth, reflecting themes of creation and sustenance. In Isaiah 44:19, it becomes a tool for prophetic critique, exposing the absurdity of idolatry when humans worship what God intended for nourishment or utility. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting contrasts between true provision from God and misplaced human devotion.
In ancient Israelite culture, agricultural produce was central to survival and economy, symbolizing God's blessing (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:4). בּוּל, as a term for such produce, would evoke images of harvest, sustenance, and divine faithfulness. The irony in Isaiah 44:19 relies on this cultural understanding: using part of a tree's 'produce' for heat (a legitimate need) while worshiping the rest as a god was a profound perversion of the created order.
יְבוּל (yᵉbûwl, H2981) — A more common synonym for 'produce' or 'fruit,' often used in agricultural and covenantal blessings. תְּבוּאָה (tᵉbûʼâh, H8393) — 'Produce' or 'income,' typically from grain harvests. פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — 'Fruit,' often literal but also metaphorical for results or offspring.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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