יַבֵּל

יַבֵּל

having running sores

Definition

The Hebrew noun יַבֵּל (yabbêl) refers to a specific physical condition, likely a type of running sore, boil, or ulcer. It appears only in Leviticus 22:22, where it describes a blemish that disqualifies an animal from being offered as a sacrifice to God. The term is part of a list of physical defects, emphasizing that offerings to the Lord must be without imperfection. While the exact medical nature is uncertain, the context clearly indicates a severe, oozing, or suppurating skin lesion.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Leviticus 22:22. It is used in a legal and ritual context within the Priestly code, specifically in regulations concerning the quality of animals presented for sacrifice. The usage is purely descriptive, listing יַבֵּל alongside other disqualifying blemishes like blindness, lameness, or mutilation.

Etymology

יַבֵּל (yabbêl) is derived from the root יָבַל (yāḇal, H2986), which carries the core meaning 'to flow' or 'to bring.' This root is seen in words like 'stream' (נַחַל, naḥal) and the verb for 'to carry' or 'lead.' The noun form יַבֵּל likely developed from this sense of flowing, directly describing a sore that flows or runs with pus.

Semantic Range

This word, while specific, contributes to the important biblical theme of holiness and the requirement for purity in worship. The prohibition against offering an animal with a יַבֵּל underscores that God is worthy of the best and the whole—symbolically, offerings must be 'without blemish.' This physical standard in the Old Testament law points forward to the New Testament reality of Christ as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice (1 Peter 1:19). Understanding this term enriches our view of God's holiness and the seriousness of approaching Him rightly. In ancient Israelite culture, the condition described by יַבֵּל would have been seen as a clear sign of impurity and unwholesomeness. Within the sacrificial system, an animal's physical state was a visible indicator of its fitness for a sacred purpose. A running sore was likely associated with disease, weakness, or corruption, making the animal unsuitable to represent a perfect offering to a holy God. This reflects a tangible, physical understanding of ritual purity. שְׁחִין (sheḥîn, H7822) — a general term for a boil or inflamed sore, used in multiple contexts (e.g., Exodus 9:9). מִזְרֶה (mizreh, H4203) — a term for a running issue or discharge, often of a chronic nature (Leviticus 15:2-3).

Word Details