I. [חָבַל] verb bind, pledge (Arabic bind; compare Aramaic , travail; חֲבַל pledge (but rare and dubious); especially cord, field, חַבְלָא cord, , חֶבְלָא pain, especially of travail; Sabean חבל border-territory, or field, SabDenkm^48.49; Ethiopic Zim^{BP 93 n.}, compare Assyrian na—balu, rope, snare (but — = )) —

Qal Perfect חָבָ֑ל Ezekiel 18:16 Imperfect יַחֲבֹל Deuteronomy 24:6; 2masculine singular תַּחֲבֹל Deuteronomy 24:17; תַּחְבֹּל Ezekiel 22:25; Job 22:6; יַחְבְּלוּ Job 24:3; יַחְבֹּ֑לוּ Job 24:9; Imperative suffix חַבְלֵהוּ Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 27:13; Infinitive absolute חָבֹל Exodus 22:25; Participle active חֹבֵל Deuteronomy 24:6, compare חֹבְלִים Zechariah 11:7,14 (name of מַקֵּל); passive חֲבֻלִים Amos 2:8; —

1 bind, only in חֹבְלִים, name of one of Zechariah's symbolic staves, Zechariah 11:7,14 symbolic of fraternity. Especially

2 bind by taking a pledge of, hold by a pledge, followed by accusative of person Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 27:13; Job 22:6; take or hold in pledge, followed by accusative of thing Exodus 22:25 ( J E), Deuteronomy 24:6 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 24:17; Job 24:3; followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verb חֲבֹל Ezekiel 18:16; עַלעָֿנִי יַחְבֹּ֑לוּ Job 24:9 probably pregnant (see Di) take pledges (getting power) over the poor; בְּגָדִים חֲבֻלִים Amos 2:8 garments taken in pledge.

Niph`al Imperfect יֵחָ֫בֶל לוֺ Proverbs 13:13 becometh pledged to it (i.e. pledged to pay the penalty, opposed to יְשֻׁלָּ֑ם), so Ew Hi De Now Str RVm VB. > below II. חָבַל q. v.

Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular חִבְּלָה Songs 8:5; חִבְּלַתְךָ Songs 8:5; Imperfect יְחַבֶּלֿ Psalm 7:15; — writhe, twist, hence travail; of mother Songs 8:5 (twice in verse) (with accusative of child; "" יְלָדָ֑תְךָ); metaphor of wicked man יְחַבֶּלאָֿ֑וֶן וְהָרָה עָמָל וְיָלַד שָֽׁקֶר ׃ Psalm 7:15.

II. חָבַל verb act (ruinously) corruptly (Late Hebrew id. wound, injure; Arabic corrupt or render unsound (the mind, a limb, etc.), be deranged (in mind); Assyrian —abâlu, injure, VR^{62, 11}; Aramaic , חַבֵּל corrupt, ruin; Ethiopic be arrogant, audacious; Sabean חֿבל DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 48}; compare Palmyrene חבל mortuus Vog^{No. 161} and often) —

Qal Perfect1plural חָבַלְנוּ Nehemiah 1:7; Imperfect1singular אֶחְבֹּל Job 34:31; Infinitive construct (used as absolute) Nehemiah 1:7; — act corruptly against, חֲבֹל חבלנו לְ Nehemiah 1:7; absolute Job 34:31.

Niph`al Imperfect יֵחָ֫בֶל לוֺ Proverbs 13:13 shall be ruined (לְ reflexive), Thes Rob-Ges AV RV, but < I. חָבַל (q. v.)

Pi`el ruin, destroy: Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְחִבֵּל את מעשׂה ידיך Ecclesiastes 5:5, subject God. Imperfect3feminine singular תְּחַבֵּל וְחֶבֶל נִמְרָץ Micah 2:10 that destroyeth, even with sore destruction; but read rather ׳נ ׳תְּחֻבְּלוּ ח ye shall be destroyed with etc., so ᵐ5 Roo Che. Infinitive construct לְחַבֵּל with accusative, the poor Isaiah 32:7, the land Isaiah 13:5; absolute Isaiah 54:16; compare Participle plural מְחַבְּלִים Songs 2:15 with accusative of foxes ruining vineyards.

Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular וְחֻבַּל consecutive Isaiah 10:27 of yoke, be ruined, broken, si vera lectio; RS^{JPh xiii. 1885, p. 62} proposes יחדל, compare also Che^{critical note}.; and remark by Di Du; 3 feminine singular חֻבָּ֑לָה Job 17:1 my spirit is broken ("" יָמַי נִזְעָ֑כוּ); Imperfect2masculine plural תְּחֻבְּלוּ Micah 2:10 (emendation: see above)