מַבּוּל

a deluge

Definition

The Hebrew word מַבּוּל (mabbûwl) refers specifically to the great, catastrophic flood sent by God to judge the earth in the days of Noah. It describes a divinely ordained, overwhelming deluge of water that covered the entire world (Genesis 7:6, 7:17). The term is used exclusively for this singular, global event in the Bible, never for a local or seasonal flood. In God's covenant promises after the event, מַבּוּל signifies the specific judgment that will never be repeated (Genesis 9:11, 9:15).

Biblical Usage

This word is used 12 times in the Old Testament, exclusively in Genesis chapters 6–9, in the narrative of Noah's flood. Every occurrence is directly tied to describing God's act of sending the floodwaters or His subsequent promise never to send such a flood again. For example, it is used in God's declaration of judgment (Genesis 6:17), in the narrative of the waters arriving (Genesis 7:10), and in the covenantal assurance (Genesis 9:15).

Etymology

מַבּוּל derives from the root יָבַל (yāḇal, H2986), which carries the sense of 'to flow' or 'to bring.' The noun form מַבּוּל thus denotes a 'flowing' or 'flood' of water. This etymological connection highlights the word's fundamental meaning as a massive, moving body of water, emphasizing the dynamic and overwhelming nature of the event.

Semantic Range

This word is central to the biblical themes of divine judgment on sin and God's covenant faithfulness. The מַבּוּל represents God's righteous response to human wickedness (Genesis 6:5-7) and serves as a prototype of final judgment (2 Peter 3:5-7). Conversely, God's promise never to send another מַבּוּל (Genesis 9:11) establishes His enduring covenant of grace and preservation with all creation. Understanding this specific Hebrew term underscores the uniqueness and global scope of the Noahic event in biblical theology.

In the ancient Near Eastern world, flood stories were common (e.g., the Epic of Gilgamesh). The biblical use of מַבּוּל sets the Genesis account apart by anchoring it in the historical actions of the one true God, Yahweh, who acts with moral purpose in judgment and salvation. Unlike polytheistic myths, the biblical flood is not a capricious act of squabbling gods but a deliberate, just act of the sovereign Creator.

שֶׁטֶף (sheṭeph, H7858) — a flash flood or violent downpour; often sudden and destructive, but not global in scope. נָהָר (nāhār, H5104) — a river or stream; a permanent, flowing body of water, not a catastrophic event.

Word Details

Scripture References