Lexical Summary
yabal: To bring, lead, carry, conduct
Original Word:יָבַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:yabal
Pronunciation:yah-BAHL
Phonetic Spelling:(yaw-bal')
KJV: bring (forth), carry, lead (forth)
NASB:bring, carried, led, led forth, brought, carry, lead
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to flow
2. causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bring forth, carry, lead forth
A primitive root; properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp) -- bring (forth), carry, lead (forth).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto conduct, bear along
NASB Translationbring (5), brought (1), carried (4), carry (1), lead (1), led (3), led forth (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
procession (Aramaic ,
id.,
Pa`el
lead along, also Ethpa`al; Aph`el
lead, conduct; Zinjirli
id., DHM
Sendsch. Glossary; Assyrian
abâlu (),
bring, conduct, COT
Glossary Dl
Pr 122 ff.; Arabic
is
run vehemently (of horse),
pursue sharply, pourdown rain,
violent rain) —
Imperfect3masculine singular suffixPsalm 60:11;Psalm 108:11; 1singular suffixJeremiah 31:9; 3masculine pluralPsalm 68:30;Psalm 76:12 (jussive);Zephaniah 3:10; suffixIsaiah 23:7; —
bear along offerings, with accusative of thing,Zephaniah 3:10; with personPsalm 68:30;Psalm 76:12.
carry away, onlyIsaiah 23:7her feet used to carry her far away to sojourn (of Tyre as colonizing and trading city).
lead, conduct, with object as suffix, of returning exilesJeremiah 31:9; triumphant army, followed by accusative of location,Psalm 60:11 =Psalm 108:11.
Imperfect3masculine singularIsaiah 18:7;Jeremiah 11:19;Hosea 12:2 3t.; 3 feminine singularPsalm 45:15; 1singularJob 10:19; 3masculine pluralJob 21:30; 3feminine pluralPsalm 45:16; 2masculine pluralIsaiah 55:12; —
be borne along: of things, followed by , a giftIsaiah 18:7; idolHosea 10:6; oilHosea 12:2.
be borne to the grave:Job 10:19;Job 21:32.
be led, conducted, followed by ,Psalm 45:15;Jeremiah 11:19;Isaiah 53:7; absolutePsalm 45:16;be led forth (from captivity in Babylon)Isaiah 55:12, absolute ("" ); the wicked (for judgment) absoluteJob 21:30.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageיָבַל portrays purposeful movement—people, animals, or tribute being brought, led, or carried. Spanning narrative, poetry, and prophecy, the verb underscores both human agency and the unseen hand of God directing events. Of its eighteen occurrences, half appear in Psalms and Job, while the Prophets employ it to describe judgment, restoration, and messianic suffering.
Processions of Honor and Worship
• Royal celebration: “In embroidered garments she will be led to the king… Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king” (Psalm 45:14-15). The bridal procession anticipates the union of Messiah and His people.
• Pilgrimage and tribute: “Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts” (Psalm 68:29) echoes inZephaniah 3:10, where distant nations “bring Me an offering.” Worship involves movement toward the LORD with gifts of gratitude.
• Covenant vows:Psalm 76:11 calls surrounding peoples to “bring tribute to the One to be feared,” reinforcing God’s universal kingship.
Guidance and Shepherding
The verb frequently highlights God’s gentle leadership:
• “They will come with weeping, but I will bring them with consolations; I will lead them to streams of water” (Jeremiah 31:9).
• Future exodus joy: “You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace” (Isaiah 55:12).
• Individual plea: “Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?” (Psalm 60:9; 108:10). Dependence on divine guidance frames both national and personal need.
Judgment and Exile
יָבַל can depict coercive leading:
• “It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king” (Hosea 10:6)—the golden calf of idolatry becomes spoil.
• “Is this your jubilant city… whose feet have carried her to settle far away?” (Isaiah 23:7) mourns Tyre’s displacement.
• Job observes the wicked “led forth on the day of wrath” (Job 21:30) and “carried to the grave” (21:32), underscoring the certainty of divine justice.
Christological Fulfillment
Isaiah 53:7 stands at the center: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to slaughter.” The Servant willingly submits to redemptive suffering, a theme foreshadowed inJeremiah 11:19 (“I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter”). The voluntary aspect of being “led” reveals both submission and sovereign purpose, fulfilled in Jesus’ Passion.
Restoration and Mission to the Nations
Isaiah 18:7 foretells Cushites bringing tribute to Zion, a prototype of global worship fulfilled ultimately in Revelation’s international throng. The verb links eschatological hope with missionary mandate: nations once hostile will be “brought” into joyful allegiance.
Practical Ministry Insights
1. Lead others toward Christ: as God “leads” His people, believers are called to shepherd the flock with gentleness and intention.
2. Bring offerings of worship: corporate gatherings reenact the Psalmic processions, turning physical movement into spiritual devotion.
3. Accept God’s guidance in suffering: the Servant’s path frames Christian endurance—being “led” even through trial accomplishes higher purposes.
4. Proclaim both mercy and judgment: יָבַל reminds the church to herald the gracious leading of salvation and the sobering leading to judgment.
Summary
יָבַל weaves through Scripture as a thread of movement—bride to groom, worshiper to sanctuary, exile to homeland, and ultimately the Lamb to the cross. Whether expressing festive procession, gentle shepherding, or solemn judgment, the verb displays the LORD’s sovereign direction of history and His people’s responsive journey of faith.
Forms and Transliterations
אֽוֹבִילֵם֒ אוּבָֽל׃ אובילם אובל׃ יֹ֭בִלֵנִי יֹבִל֣וּהָ יֽוּבַל־ יבלוה יבלני יוֹבִ֖ילוּ יוֹבִ֥ילוּ יוֹבִל֖וּן יוּבַ֣ל יוּבָ֑ל יוּבָ֔ל יוּבָֽל׃ יוּבָֽלוּ׃ יובילו יובל יובל־ יובל׃ יובלו׃ יובלון תּ֭וּבַלְנָה תּֽוּבָל֑וּן תּוּבַ֪ל תובל תובלון תובלנה ’ō·w·ḇî·lêm ’ōwḇîlêm ’ū·ḇāl ’ūḇāl oiLem tū·ḇā·lūn tū·ḇal tū·ḇal·nāh tūḇal tūḇalnāh tūḇālūn tuVal Tuvalnah tuvaLun uVal yō·ḇi·lê·nî yō·ḇi·lū·hā yō·w·ḇî·lū yō·w·ḇi·lūn yōḇilênî yōḇilūhā Yoileni yoiLuha yoiLun yoVilu yōwḇîlū yōwḇilūn yū·ḇā·lū yū·ḇal yū·ḇāl yū·ḇal- yūḇal yūḇāl yūḇal- yūḇālū yuVal yuValu
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