Strong's Hebrew: 57. אָבֵל (abel) -- mourning, mourn, mourners

Original Word: אָבֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: abel
Pronunciation: ah-vel
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale')
KJV: mourn(-er, -ing)
NASB: mourning, mourn, mourners, one who sorrows
Word Origin: [from H56 (אָבַל - mourn)]

1. lamenting

mourner,

From 'abal; lamenting -- mourn(-er, -ing).

see HEBREW 'abal

Word Origin
from abal
Definition
mourning
NASB Translation
mourn (2), mourners (2), mourning (3), one who sorrows (1).

I. אָבֵל adjective mourning — ׳א Genesis 37:35; Esther 6:12; construct אֲבֶלֿ Psalm 35:14; אֲבֵלִים Job 29:25; Isaiah 61:2 etc.; — for dead Genesis 37:35, calamity Esther 6:12, compare figurative Lamentations 1:4 (predicate, inanimate subject), elsewhere as substantive mourner; singular Psalm 35:14 (construct) for dead ("" קדר); plural Job 29:25 absolute; for calamity Isaiah 57:18; Isaiah 61:2,3(where mourners for Zion, or of Zion, see Di).

II. אבל (perhaps grow green, compare grass; Lag^{BN 45} proposes withstand, hence אָבֵל as withstanding scorching sun (protected by trees, springs, etc.), hence also (Lag) camel). Etymologogical conjectures very dubious; connection (Lag.) of withstand, with herbage, forage (sometimes dry) improbable, and of latter with herd of camels obscure; √ meaning grow green unattested; Syriac , , Talmud יַבְלָא, Punic ιεβαλ, 'grass,' apparently = a specific kind of fodder, ἄγρωστις, see Löw^{No. 141} (GFM, privately).

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Sense and Scope

אָבֵל denotes the state or person of mourning, whether individual or communal. Across its eight appearances it portrays both the raw reality of grief and the divine pledge to transform that grief into joy.

Representative Occurrences

• Genesis 37:35 – "I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." The word captures Jacob’s sustained sorrow that shapes the Joseph narrative.
• Esther 6:12 – Haman "hurried home, mourning and with his head covered," a dramatic reversal that anticipates his fall.
• Job 29:25 – Job recalls how he once "comforted those who mourned," revealing the social expectation to come alongside the sorrowing.
• Psalm 35:14 – David "bowed down in mourning," modeling intercessory empathy even for adversaries.
• Isaiah 57:18 – "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners." The term is folded into a promise of healing.
• Isaiah 61:2-3 – The Servant is anointed "to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who grieve in Zion... the oil of joy instead of mourning." Here אָבֵל becomes the backdrop for messianic consolation.
• Lamentations 1:4 – "The roads to Zion mourn," personifying national desolation.

Theological Themes

1. Authentic Grief before God

Scripture legitimizes sorrow; patriarchs, psalmists, prophets, and even the enemies of God are shown in אָבֵל. Grief is not minimized but voiced, often in prayer or lament.

2. Communal Responsibility to Comfort

Job once "sat as chief... and comforted the mourners" (Job 29:25). Comforting the אָבֵל is a covenant duty, later echoed in Paul’s charge, "Comfort one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

3. Mourning as a Sign of Judgment

In Lamentations the land itself mourns, underscoring the covenant curses that follow national sin. The word thereby warns against complacency toward unrighteousness.

4. Prophetic Promise of Reversal

Isaiah 57:18 and 61:2-3 bind mourning to divine restoration. The Servant’s ministry pledges that sorrow will not have the last word, prefiguring the New Covenant hope where "He will wipe away every tear" (Revelation 21:4).

Historical Significance

• Patriarchal Period – Jacob’s grief sets the emotional tone for the unfolding salvation of his family in Egypt.
• Exilic and Post-Exilic Era – Isaiah and Lamentations place national mourning within God’s redemptive timeline, showing that exile is not terminal.
• Persian Period – Haman’s sudden mourning contrasts with Mordecai’s honor, highlighting divine providence in Esther.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

• Permit and express lament in personal and corporate worship (e.g., Psalms of lament).
• Provide tangible comfort: presence, prayer, and practical aid mirror Job’s former practice and Christ’s compassion.
• Preach Christ as the ultimate fulfiller of Isaiah 61; He read these words in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-19), declaring the age of comfort inaugurated.
• Anchor consolation in eschatological hope: present mourning is temporary and purposeful, producing a "weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Related Concepts

• אֲבַל / אָבַל – to mourn (verb)
• קִנָּה – lamentation
• נֶחָם – comfort, consolation

In every text, אָבֵל reminds readers that while grief is real and often profound, God’s redemptive plan moves steadily toward comfort, restoration, and unending joy.

אֲבֵל֗וֹת אֲבֵלִ֣ים אֲבֵלִֽים׃ אָבֵ֖ל אבל אבלות אבלים אבלים׃ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃ ולאבליו׃ כַּאֲבֶל־ כאבל־ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י לאבלי ’ă·ḇê·lîm ’ă·ḇê·lō·wṯ ’ā·ḇêl ’āḇêl ’ăḇêlîm ’ăḇêlōwṯ aVel aveLim aveLot ka’ăḇel- ka·’ă·ḇel- kaavel la’ăḇêlê la·’ă·ḇê·lê laaveLei velaaveLav wə·la·’ă·ḇê·lāw wəla’ăḇêlāwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Genesis 37:35
HEB: אֶל־ בְּנִ֛י אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ
NAS: to Sheol in mourning for my son.
KJV: unto my son mourning. Thus his father
INT: about my son mourning to Sheol wept

Esther 6:12
HEB: אֶל־ בֵּית֔וֹ אָבֵ֖ל וַחֲפ֥וּי רֹֽאשׁ׃
NAS: home, mourning, with [his] head
KJV: to his house mourning, and having his head
INT: about home mourning covered with head

Job 29:25
HEB: בַּגְּד֑וּד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲבֵלִ֣ים יְנַחֵֽם׃
NAS: As one who comforted the mourners.
KJV: as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
INT: the troops after mourners comforted

Psalm 35:14
HEB: לִ֭י הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי כַּאֲבֶל־ אֵ֝֗ם קֹדֵ֥ר
NAS: mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
KJV: heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.
INT: brother went one A mother mourning

Isaiah 57:18
HEB: נִֽחֻמִ֛ים ל֖וֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃
NAS: comfort to him and to his mourners,
KJV: comforts unto him and to his mourners.
INT: and restore comfort his mourners

Isaiah 61:2
HEB: לְנַחֵ֖ם כָּל־ אֲבֵלִֽים׃
NAS: To comfort all who mourn,
KJV: of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
INT: to comfort all mourn

Isaiah 61:3
HEB: לָשׂ֣וּם ׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩
NAS: To grant those who mourn [in] Zion,
KJV: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
INT: to grant mourn Zion Giving

Lamentations 1:4
HEB: דַּרְכֵ֨י צִיּ֜וֹן אֲבֵל֗וֹת מִבְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣י
NAS: of Zion are in mourning Because
KJV: of Zion do mourn, because none come
INT: the roads of Zion mourning no comes

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 57
8 Occurrences

’ā·ḇêl — 2 Occ.
’ă·ḇê·lîm — 2 Occ.
’ă·ḇê·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ka·’ă·ḇel- — 1 Occ.
la·’ă·ḇê·lê — 1 Occ.
wə·la·’ă·ḇê·lāw — 1 Occ.