בָּדַל H0914
Separate, set apart (Hifil); be separated, withdraw (Nifal); distinguish between holy and profane (Hifil).
The Hebrew verb badal means fundamentally 'to divide, to separate,' but its richness unfolds across two binyanim. In the Hifil (causative), God himself is the premier subject: he separates light from darkness (Gen 1:4), waters from waters (Gen 1:6-7), and Israel from the nations (Lev 20:26). This same stem consecrates the Levites (Num 8:14; Deut 10:8) and structures the priestly task of distinguishing holy from profane (Lev 10:10). In the Nifal, the emphasis shifts to communal self-separation — Ezra's community separating from the peoples of the land (Ezra 6:21; 9:1). Spanish separar, French séparer, and German absondern track the physical senses, while distinguir and unterscheiden handle the cognitive 'distinguish between.'
Senses
1. Hifil: separate, set apart — The Hifil (causative) sense of actively separating, dividing, or setting apart persons or things — whether for physical division, ritual consecration, or divine election. This dominant sense (29 occurrences) begins at creation itself: God separating light from darkness (Gen 1:4), the waters above from below (Gen 1:6-7), and day from night (Gen 1:14, 18). It extends to Israel's consecration: 'I have separated you from the peoples' (Lev 20:26), and to Levitical appointment (Num 8:14; Deut 10:8; 1 Chr 25:1). Spanish separar/apartar, French séparer, and German absondern all capture the causative force. The veil of the tabernacle 'separates' (hivdilah) the Holy Place from the Most Holy (Exod 26:33) — a spatial division with profound theological architecture. 29×
AR["أَفْرَزَ", "تُفَرِّقُ", "تُفْرِزُ", "فَأَفْرَزَ", "فَاصِلًا", "لِتَفْصِلَ", "لِـ-يَفْصِلَ", "مَيَّزْتُكُمْ", "مَيَّزْتُهُ", "وَ-أَفْرَزْتُ", "وَ-تُمَيِّزُونَ", "وَ-فَرَزْتُكُمْ", "وَ-فَصَلَ", "يَفْصِلُ", "يَفْصِلُنِي"]·ben["আর-পৃথক-করলাম", "আর-পৃথক-করলেন", "আলাদা-করলেন", "আলাদা-করুক", "এবং-পৃথক-করবে", "এবং-পৃথক-করেছি", "তুমি-পৃথক-করবে", "পৃথক-করতে", "পৃথক-করবেন-আমাকে", "পৃথক-করলেন", "পৃথক-করেছি", "পৃথক-করেছেন", "পৃথককারী"]·DE["[ואבדילה]", "[ויבדל]", "[יבדילני]", "[להבדיל]", "[מבדלים]", "abgesondert", "du-soll-setzen-apart", "er-soll-teilen", "hat-absonderte", "ich-setzen-apart", "setzen-apart", "trennend", "und-distinguish", "und-ich-setzen-apart", "und-schied", "zu-scheiden"]·EN["I-set-apart", "and-I-set-apart", "and-distinguish", "and-separated", "and-set-apart", "has-separated", "he-shall-divide", "separating", "set-apart", "to-separate", "will-separate-me", "you-shall-set-apart"]·FR["[יבדילני]", "[להבדיל]", "[מבדלים]", "a-sépara", "et-distinguish", "et-je-placer-apart", "et-sépara", "et-séparer", "il-devra-diviser", "je-placer-apart", "placer-apart", "séparant", "tu-devra-placer-apart", "à-séparer"]·heb["הבדיל", "ו-הבדיל", "ו-הבדיל-ה", "יבדיל", "יבדילני", "ל-הבדיל", "מבדלים", "תבדיל"]·HI["अलग-करने-के-लिए", "अलग-करने-वाला", "अलग-करनेवाले", "अलग-करे", "अलग-करेगा", "अलग-किया", "अलग-किया-मैंने", "और-अलग-करोगे", "और-अलग-किया", "और-अलग-किया-मैंने", "और-मैंने-अलग-किए"]·ID["Aku-pisahkan", "Dan-aku-memisahkan", "Dan-bedakanlah", "TUHAN-akan-memisahkan-aku", "dan-Aku-memisahkan", "dan-memisahkan", "dan-memisahkanlah", "ia-akan-memisahkan", "memisahkan", "pisahkanlah", "untuk-memisahkan", "yang-memisahkan"]·IT["[יבדילני]", "[להבדיל]", "[מבדלים]", "a-separare", "e-distinguish", "e-io-porre-apart", "e-separare", "e-separò", "egli-dovra-dividere", "ha-separo", "io-porre-apart", "messo-a-parte", "porre-apart", "separating", "tu-dovra-porre-apart"]·jav["Kawula-misahaken", "Lan-misahaken", "Mila-sami-bedakna", "Yéhuwah-badhe-misahaken-kula", "ingkang-misah", "kangge-misahaken", "lan-Kawula-misahaken", "lan-kawula-misahaken", "lan-misahaken", "medhot", "misahaken", "pamisah", "panjenengan-misahaken"]·KO["갈라놓는", "구별하라", "구별하리라", "구별하셨느니라", "구별하였다", "구별했다", "구별했다-나는", "그-가-분리하라", "그리고-구별할-것이다-너희는", "그리고-구별했다", "그리고-구별했다-나는", "그리고-내가-구별했다", "그리고-분리하셨다", "떼어내라", "분리하는-것", "에-구별하기-위하여", "에-분리하기-위해"]·PT["E-separareis", "E-separou", "e-separei", "e-separou", "me-separará", "para-separar", "separando", "separará", "separarás", "separação", "separei", "separou"]·RU["И-отделил", "для-отделения", "и-отделил", "и-различайте", "отдели", "отделил", "отделит", "отделит-меня", "разделяющей", "разделяющими", "чтобы-отделять"]·ES["Y-separaréis", "Y-separó", "apartó", "dividirá", "las-que-separan", "me-separará", "os-separé", "para-separar", "separando", "separará", "separarás", "separé", "separó", "y-aparté", "y-os-separé", "y-separó"]·SW["Na-akawatenga", "Na-mtatenga", "akatenga", "alitenga", "amewatenga", "asiigawanye", "ataigawanya", "atanitenga", "ikitenga", "kutenganisha", "na-akatenganisha", "na-nikatenga", "na-nimewatenga", "nimevitenga", "nimewatenga", "utatenga", "yanatenganisha"]·TR["Ve-ayirdim", "Ve-ayırdı", "ayiracak-beni", "ayiranlar", "ayıracak", "ayıracaksın", "ayırdı", "ayırdım", "ayırmak-için", "ayırıcı", "ve-ayıracaksınız", "ve-ayırdı", "ve-ayırdım"]·urd["الگ-کرنے-والا", "الگ-کرنے-کو", "الگ-کرے", "الگ-کیا", "اور-الگ-کرو", "اور-الگ-کیا", "اور-میں-نے-الگ-کِیے", "تُو-الگ-کرے", "جدا-کرنے-والیاں", "جدا-کرے-گا-مجھے"]
2. Nifal: be separated, withdraw — The Nifal (passive/reflexive) sense of being separated or separating oneself, withdrawing from a group or community. With 10 occurrences, this form describes both commanded and voluntary self-exclusion: 'Separate yourselves from this congregation' (Num 16:21), the warriors who 'separated themselves' to join David at Ziklag (1 Chr 12:9), and repeatedly in Ezra-Nehemiah where returned exiles 'separated themselves from the peoples of the lands' (Ezra 6:21; 9:1; 10:11; Neh 9:2; 10:28). Spanish apartarse, French se séparer, and German sich absondern all employ reflexive constructions. The Ezra passages are especially important: they establish badal (Nifal) as the technical verb for post-exilic communal boundary-marking. 10×
AR["ال-مُنْفَصِلُ", "المُنْفَصِل", "انْفَصَلُوا", "اِنْفَصِلَا", "فَ-انْفَصَلَ", "فَانْفَرَزَ", "وَ-انْفَرَزَ", "وَ-انْفَصِلُوا", "يَنْفَصِلُوا", "يُفْرَزُ"]·ben["আর-পৃথক-হও", "আর-পৃথক-হল", "আর-পৃথক-হলেন", "পৃথক-হও", "পৃথক-হওয়া", "পৃথক-হবে", "পৃথক-হয়নি", "পৃথক-হলেন", "যারা-পৃথক-ছিল"]·DE["[הנבדל]", "[והבדלו]", "[ויבדל]", "[ויבדלו]", "[יבדל]", "[נבדלו]", "absondern-euch-selbst"]·EN["and-separate-yourselves", "and-separated-themselves", "and-was-set-apart", "and-were-set-apart", "have-separated-themselves", "separate-yourselves", "separated-themselves", "the-one-separated", "who-had-separated-themselves", "will-be-separated"]·FR["et-séparer", "séparer", "séparer-vous-mêmes"]·heb["ה-הבדיל", "הבדיל", "ו-הבדיל"]·HI["अलग-किया-जाएगा", "अलग-हुए", "अलग-हुए-हैं", "अलग-हो-जाओ", "और-अलग-किए-गए", "और-अलग-किया-गया", "और-अलग-हुए", "और-अलग-हो-जाओ", "जिन्होंने-अलग-किया-था", "जिन्होंने-अलग-किया-था-अपने-आपको"]·ID["akan-dipisahkan", "dan-dipisahkan", "dan-memisahkan-diri", "dan-pisahkanlah-diri-kamu", "memisahkan-diri", "pisahkanlah-diri", "yang-memisahkan-diri"]·IT["e-separare", "separare", "separare-voi-stessi"]·jav["Lajeng-sami-misah", "Misah", "badhe-kapisahaken", "ingkang-misahaken", "kang-misah", "lan-kapisahaken", "lan-pisahaken-dhiri", "misah", "misahaken-dhiri"]·KO["구별했다", "그-분리된-자", "그-분리한자", "그리고-분리되었다", "그리고-분리하라", "그리하여-분리되었다", "떨어져나왔다", "분리될것이다", "분리하라"]·PT["E-separaram-se", "Separai-vos", "e-foi-separado", "e-separai-vos", "e-separaram-se", "o-que-se-separou", "se-separou", "separaram-se", "seria-separado"]·RU["И-отделилось", "будет-отделён", "и-отделились", "и-отделитесь", "и-отделён-был", "отделившиеся", "отделившийся", "отделились", "отделился", "отделитесь"]·ES["Apartaos", "Y-se-separaron", "el-que-se-separaba", "el-que-se-separó", "se-han-separado", "se-separaron", "sería-separado", "y-fue-apartado", "y-fueron-separados", "y-sepáraos"]·SW["Jitengeni", "atatenganishwa", "hawakujitenga", "na-akatenganishwa", "na-jitengeni", "na-wakajitenga", "walijitenga", "waliojitenga"]·TR["ayrilacak", "ayrildi", "ayrilmis", "ayrılan", "ayrıldılar", "ayrılın", "ve-ayrildi", "ve-ayrilin", "ve-ayrıldı", "ve-ayrıldılar"]·urd["ال-جدا-ہوا", "الگ-کِیا-جائےگا", "الگ-ہو-جاؤ", "الگ-ہوئی", "الگ-ہونے-والا", "اور-الگ-کیا-گیا", "اور-الگ-ہو", "اور-الگ-ہوئے", "جدا-ہوئے"]
3. Hifil: distinguish, differentiate between — The Hifil sense of making a cognitive or judicial distinction between categories — 'to distinguish, to differentiate' — rather than physically separating objects. Only 3 clear occurrences, all in priestly instruction: Leviticus 10:10, where Aaron's sons must 'distinguish between the holy and the profane, between the unclean and the clean'; Leviticus 11:47, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals; and Ezekiel 22:26, where the priests 'have made no distinction between the holy and the common.' Spanish distinguir, French distinguer, and German unterscheiden replace the physical separation vocabulary, confirming that translators recognize a shift from spatial division to evaluative discernment — a priestly intellectual function at the heart of Torah. 3×
AR["لِلتَّمْيِيزِ", "وَ-لِلتَّمْيِيزِ", "يُفَرِّقُوا"]·ben["এবং-পৃথক-করতে", "পৃথক-করতে", "পৃথক-করেছে-তারা"]·DE["[הבדילו]", "und-zu-distinguish", "zu-absondern"]·EN["and-to-distinguish", "they-distinguish", "to-separate"]·FR["[הבדילו]", "et-à-distinguish", "à-séparer"]·heb["הבדילו", "ו-הבדיל", "ל-הבדיל"]·HI["अलग करने के लिए", "अलग-किया-उन्होंने", "और-अलग-करने-के-लिए"]·ID["dan-untuk-membedakan", "mereka-bedakan", "untuk-membedakan"]·IT["[הבדילו]", "a-separare", "e-a-distinguish"]·jav["Kangge-mbédakén", "Lan-kangge-mbédakén", "sami-mbedakaken"]·KO["구별하라", "구별했다", "그리고-구별하라"]·PT["E-para-distinguir", "Para-distinguir", "distinguiram"]·RU["и-чтобы-различать", "святым", "чтобы-различать"]·ES["Para-distinguir", "Y-para-distinguir", "distinguieron"]·SW["Kutofautisha", "Na-kutofautisha", "tofautisha"]·TR["ayırt-etmek-için", "ayırt-ettiler", "ve-ayırt-etmek-için"]·urd["اور-تاکہ-فرق-کرو", "فرق-کیا", "لئے-فرق-کرنے-کے"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[בָּדַל] vb. be divided, separate (Arabic بَدَلَ change, substitute, Mish. בָּדַל divide, Syriac ܒܕܰܠ Ithp. Ethp.)— Hiph. divide, separate; Pf. הִבְדִּיל Nu 16:9; Dt 10:8; sf. וְהִבְדִּילוֹ consec. Dt 29:20; 3 fs. וְהִבְדִּילָה Ex 26:33; וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ Nu 8:14; הִבְדִּילוּ Ez 22:26, etc. Impf. יַבְדִּיל Lv 1:17 +; וַיַּבְדֵּל Gn 1:4, 7; 1 Ch 25:1; sf. יַבְדִּילַנִי Is 56:3; וָאַבְדִּל Lv 20:26;…