Hebrew word · H61

אֲבָל

'aval

truly

An uncommon particle with two uses. (1) Affirming: 'truly, surely, indeed' (BDB treats this as the older sense; e.g. Gen 42:21 'Truly we are guilty', 2 Kgs 4:14, 2 Sam 14:5 'Truly I am a widow').

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) truly, verily, surely

2) but, however, howbeit

3) contrariwise, nay rather (neg.)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Genesis 17:19

Range of meaning

An uncommon particle with two uses. (1) Affirming: 'truly, surely, indeed' (BDB treats this as the older sense; e.g. Gen 42:21 'Truly we are guilty', 2 Kgs 4:14, 2 Sam 14:5 'Truly I am a widow'). (2) Contrasting: 'but, however, nevertheless' (mostly in later books such as Daniel, Ezra and Chronicles, and the normal sense in later Hebrew).

Against the English

KJV and BSB take it as affirming ('indeed'). ESV, NASB, WEB and NLT read it as correcting Abraham ('No, but…', 'No—…'). NIV joins both ideas ('Yes, but…').

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Hebrew Bible it occurs only about a dozen times. The affirming sense dominates in the older narrative passages, and the 'but' sense in late books. The Septuagint here renders it 'Yes' (Ναί), so the Greek translators read it as affirming.

From the study of Genesis 42:21

Range of meaning

Two uses at different periods. In older Hebrew it affirms: "truly, surely, indeed" (Gen 42:21; 2 Sam 14:5; 2 Kgs 4:14). In later Hebrew (Chronicles, Ezra, Daniel) it is a contrast word, "but, however," which is its ordinary meaning in later Jewish Hebrew.

Against the English

"Verily" (KJV, YLT), "certainly" (WEB), "surely" (BSB), "in truth" (ESV) and "truly" (NASB) all render the older affirming sense correctly.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDB lists Gen 42:21 under the old affirming sense, "verily, of a truth." The LXX opens with Nai, "Yes," which confirms an affirming reading.

From the study of Daniel 10:7

Range of meaning

In older Hebrew it is an emphatic 'truly, indeed, alas' (Genesis 17:19, 42:21; 2 Samuel 14:5; 2 Kings 4:14). In later biblical Hebrew it mostly means 'but, however, nevertheless' (Ezra 10:13; 2 Chronicles 1:4, 19:3, 33:17; Daniel 10:7, 21).

Against the English

The supplied data glosses it 'truly', its older dictionary sense. In context 'but' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT) is right. Some versions sharpen it to 'nevertheless' (NASB).

Used elsewhere in the period

Its use as 'but' clusters in the late books (Chronicles, Ezra, Daniel), which fits the late Hebrew of Daniel 10–12. Daniel 10:21 uses it again: 'However, I will tell you…'.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 17:19 אֲבָל֙ but

    But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

    Here: A rare particle. In older Hebrew it usually affirms ('truly, indeed'), and in later Hebrew it contrasts ('but, rather'). Here it answers Abraham's wish: either 'Truly, Sarah will…' or 'No, rather, Sarah will…'. Either way it insists on Sarah over against Abraham's settling for Ishmael.

  2. Genesis 42:21 אֲבָל֮ indeed

    Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

    Here: In older Hebrew this word stresses that something is true: "truly, it has to be said." It opens a reluctant, sobering admission. It is not "but" here, which is its later meaning.

2 Samuel · 1

  1. 2 Samuel 14:5 אֲבָ֛ל indeed

    “What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead.

1 Kings · 1

  1. 1 Kings 1:43 אֲבָ֕ל indeed

    “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 4:14 אֲבָ֛ל indeed

    So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.”

2 Chronicles · 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:4 אֲבָ֗ל but

    Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

  2. 2 Chronicles 19:3 אֲבָ֕ל but

    However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

    Here: In later biblical Hebrew (Chronicles, Ezra, Daniel) this particle means 'but, however.' It turns the speech: verse 2 announced wrath, and this word brings in what weighs on the other side.

  3. 2 Chronicles 33:17 אֲבָל֙ but

    Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

Ezra · 1

  1. Ezra 10:13 אֲבָ֞ל but

    But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.

Daniel · 2

  1. Daniel 10:7 אֲבָ֗ל but

    Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.

    Here: A strong 'but' or 'nevertheless', as often in later biblical Hebrew. They saw nothing, yet something reached them all the same.

  2. Daniel 10:21 אֲבָל֙ but

    But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.

    Here: In later Biblical Hebrew this word works as 'however, nevertheless'. It turns away from the angel's remark about going back to fight (v. 20) and toward what he will tell Daniel before he leaves.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.