1 in older Hebrew with an asseverative force, verily, of a truth Genesis 42:21; 2 Samuel 14:5; 1 Kings 1:43; 2 Kings 4:14, with a slight adversative force, nay, but Genesis 17:19 (P).

2 in late Hebrew as a decided adversative, howbeit, but Daniel 10:7,21; Ezra 10:13; 2Chronicles 1:4; 19:3; 33:17 (compare Arabic of a truth, sometimes, from the context, nay rather Qor 2:82; 2:94; 2:110; 2:129; 2:149; 2:165; 2:261; 3:143; 4:52 etc.)

III. אבל (compare Arabic able to manage camels, from , collective, Sabean אבל camel DHM^{ZMG 1883, 329}). On this etymology, form ׳אוֺ needs explanation; GFM (privately) queries whether, if Genuine, name may not be theophoric (x + £l), possibly error for אַדְבְּאֵל; or Aramaic Aph`el from יבל (which in any case may have influenced pronunciation).