Original Word: בָּדל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: badal
Pronunciation: bah-DAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-dal')
KJV: (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), X utterly
NASB: separated, separate, set apart, make a distinction, excluded, set aside, sever
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)

make, put difference, divide asunder, make separate

A primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.) -- (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), X utterly.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be divided, separate
NASB Translation
came over (1), dismissed (1), divide (1), excluded (2), made a separation (1), made...distinction (1), make a distinction (3), partition (1), selected (1), separate (6), separated (10), serve (1), set you apart (1), set apart (6), set aside (2), sever (2), single (1), surely separate (1).

[בָּדַל] verb be divided, separate (Arabic change, substitute, Mishna בָּדַל divide, Syriac Ithpe`el, Ethpe`el) —

Hiph`il divide, separate; Perfect הִבְדִּיל Numbers 16:9; Deuteronomy 10:8; suffix וְהִבְדִּילוֺ consecutive Deuteronomy 29:20; 3feminine singular וְהִבְדִּילָה Exodus 26:33; וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ Numbers 8:14; הִבְדִּילוּ Ezekiel 22:26, etc. Imperfect יַבְדִּיל Leviticus 1:17 +; וַיַּבְדֵּל Genesis 1:4,7; 1 Chronicles 25:1; suffix יַבְדִּילַנִי Isaiah 56:3; וָאַבְדִּל Leviticus 20:26; וָאַבְדִּילָה Ezra 8:24, etc.; Infinitive absolute הַבְדֵּל Isaiah 56:3; construct לְהַבְדִּיל Genesis 1:14 +; Participle מַבְדִּיל Genesis 1:6; מַבְדִּילִים Isaiah 59:2; —

1 divide, separate, subject God Genesis 1:4 followed by וּבֵין....בֵּין between light and darkness, compare Genesis 1:7; subject heavenly bodies Genesis 1:14; Genesis 1:18; subject firmament followed by בֵּיןלְ֗֗֗ Genesis 1:6 (all in P's source); Exodus 26:33 of the מָּרֹכֶת in tabernacle, followed by בֵּיןוּ֗֗֗בֵין֗֗֗ לָכֶם; of iniquities, separating men from God בֵּין ֗֗֗ לְבֵין Isaiah 59:2.

2 separate, set apart, followed by מִן, of ׳י, setting off Israel from other peoples Leviticus 20:24 (H) Numbers 16:9 (P); Leviticus 20:26 followed by also לִהְיוֺת לִי; compare 1 Kings 8:53 לְךָ לְנַחֲלָה ׳הִבְדּ separate them to thyself as an inheritance; of Moses, setting apart Levites, followed by מִתּוֺח Numbers 8:14; of separating an individual from the people, i.e. excluding him Deuteronomy 29:20, followed by also לְרָעָה; followed by מֵעַל Isaiah 56:3 (twice in verse), i.e. excluding him; compare also Nehemiah 13:3 followed by מִן; of setting apart (forbidding) beasts as unclean לָכֶם לְטַמֵּא Leviticus 20:25; of setting apart the tribe of Levi ׳לָשֵׂאת וגו Deuteronomy 10:8 (subject ׳י); compare also (hum. subject) 1 Chronicles 25:1, followed by לַעֲבֹדָה, 2 Chronicles 25:10 followed by Infinitive; similarly Ezra 8:24; even followed by participle Ezekiel 39:14 they shall set apart men עֹבְרִים, i.e. to pass through, or, men that shall pass through (RV); so of setting apart cities, accusative Deuteronomy 4:41; compare Deuteronomy 19:2,7.

3 make a distinction between clean and unclean, holy and profane, followed by בֵּיןוּ֗֗֗בֵין Leviticus 20:25 (H); Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 11:47 (both P); followed by בֵּיןלְ֗֗֗ Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 42:20.

4 divide into parts Leviticus 1:17; Leviticus 5:8 (P), prohibited in case of fowls offered in sacrifice.

Niph`al Perfect נִבְדְּלוּ 1 Chronicles 12:8; Ezra 9:1; Imperfect יִבָּדֵל Ezra 10:8; וַיִּבָּדֵל 1 Chronicles 23:13; וַיִּבָּֽדְלוּ Ezra 10:16; Nehemiah 9:2; Imperative הִבָּֽדְלוּ Numbers 16:21; Ezra 10:11; Participle נִבְדָּל Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 10:29. 1 (reflexive of Hiph`il 2)

a. separate oneself from people of the land, heathen, and their practices, also from non-Jewish wives, followed by מִן Ezra 6:21; Ezra 9:1; Ezra 10:11; Nehemiah 9:2; absolute in same sense Ezra 10:16 (compare Sta^{G. ii. 199 & 179 n.} Wl^{Pharisäer u. Sadd. 76}).

b. withdraw from (Moses & Aaron from Israel) Numbers 16:21 (P), followed by מִתּוֺח.

c. separate oneself unto (אֶל) David 1 Chronicles 12:8.

d. Nehemiah 10:29 combines a. & c. separate oneself מֵעַמֵּי הָֽאֲרָצוֺת אֶלתּֿוֺרַת הָאֱלֹהִים.

2 passive, be separated.

a. be excluded from the people, followed by מִן Ezra 10:8.

b. be set apart, of Aaron, followed by לְהַקְדִּישׁוֺ 1 Chronicles 23:13. — On הבדיל, & distinction from הפריד see Dr^{JPhoenician xi. 219}.

Divine Act of Separation in Creation

“God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). The same verb recurs when the waters are divided (Genesis 1:6-7). These inaugural uses reveal a Creator who brings life-sustaining order by drawing clear boundaries. Separation is therefore not negative exclusion but the constructive act that makes habitation and blessing possible.

Separation as the Essence of Holiness

Priestly instruction hinges on distinction: “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean” (Leviticus 10:10). Repeatedly the Lord reminds Israel, “I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45; cf. 20:24-26). Holiness is relational before it is ritual; God sets His people apart so that they may reflect His character.

Distinguishing God’s People from the Nations

During the plagues God declared, “I will make a distinction between My people and your people” (Exodus 8:23; also 9:4; 11:7). Deliverance itself is an act of separation, underscoring covenant loyalty. Numbers 8:14 adds, “Thus you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites shall be Mine.” Privilege is joined to responsibility: those set apart are commissioned for service.

Cultic and Ceremonial Boundaries

Leviticus 15:31 commands the priests to “separate the Israelites from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling My tabernacle.” The verb shapes regulations for food, bodily emissions, Nazirites (Numbers 6:2-3), and even geography, as when cities of refuge are “set apart” (Deuteronomy 4:41). Sacred space, sacred persons, and sacred times exist because God marks them off for His own purposes.

Moral and Spiritual Separation

Following exile, restoration required renewed separation: “The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins” (Nehemiah 9:2; cf. Ezra 10:11; Nehemiah 10:28). Here the verb moves beyond ritual purity to covenant faithfulness and repentance, reminding the community that sin, not ethnicity, is what truly alienates from God.

Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes

Isaiah warns, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2), yet promises inclusion for the outsider who fears being “separated from the LORD” (Isaiah 56:3). Ezekiel envisions a future temple whose wall “separated the holy from the common” (Ezekiel 42:20), affirming that holiness remains central in the consummation of God’s kingdom.

Christological Fulfillment and New Testament Resonance

New Covenant writers employ the concept if not the Hebrew term. Paul cites Isaiah to exhort, “Come out from among them and be separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Peter echoes Leviticus: “You are a chosen people…a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). In Jesus, the Holy One set apart by the Father (John 10:36), separation achieves its redemptive goal: the veil is torn (Matthew 27:51), granting access while preserving divine holiness.

Ministry Implications

1. Worship must honor God-ordained distinctions in doctrine, sacrament, and leadership.
2. Discipleship calls believers to continual cleansing from defilement (2 Corinthians 7:1).
3. Mission springs from being set apart for witness, not isolation (Exodus 19:6; Matthew 5:14-16).
4. Pastoral oversight guards the flock from influences that blur biblical boundaries (Acts 20:28-31).

Summary

From the cosmos to the covenant community, בָּדל depicts a purposeful God who divides to bless, consecrates to inhabit, and distinguishes to redeem. The call remains: live distinctly in the world while reflecting the holiness of the One who first separated light from darkness.

הִבְדִּ֔ילוּ הִבְדִּ֤יל הִבְדִּיל֩ הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי הִבְדַּלְתָּ֤ם הִבָּ֣דְל֔וּ הַבְדֵּ֧ל הַנִּבְדָּ֛ל הַנִּבְדָּ֞ל הבדיל הבדילו הבדל הבדלו הבדלתי הבדלתם הנבדל וְהִבְדִּיל֤וֹ וְהִבְדִּילָ֤ה וְהִבְדַּלְתֶּ֞ם וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ֙ וְהִבָּֽדְלוּ֙ וַיִּבָּֽדְלוּ֙ וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ וַיִּבָּדֵ֣ל וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ וַיַּבְדִּילֵ֣ם וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה וָאַבְדִּ֥ל וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל ואבדילה ואבדל והבדילה והבדילו והבדלו והבדלת והבדלתם ויבדילו ויבדילם ויבדל ויבדלו ולהבדיל יִבָּדֵ֖ל יַבְדִּ֙ילוּ֙ יַבְדִּ֤יל יַבְדִּֽיל׃ יַבְדִּיל֒ יַבְדִּילַ֛נִי יבדיל יבדיל׃ יבדילו יבדילני יבדל לְהַבְדִּ֕יל להבדיל מַבְדִּ֔יל מַבְדִּלִ֔ים מבדיל מבדלים נִבְדְּל֞וּ נִבְדְּל֣וּ נבדלו תַּבְדִּ֣יל תַּבְדִּ֥יל תבדיל haḇ·dêl haḇdêl han·niḇ·dāl hanniḇdāl hannivDal havDel hib·bā·ḏə·lū hiḇ·dal·tām hiḇ·dal·tî hiḇ·dî·lū hiḇ·dîl hibBadeLu hibbāḏəlū hiḇdaltām hiḇdaltî hiḇdîl hiḇdîlū hivdalTam hivDalti hivDil hivDilu lə·haḇ·dîl ləhaḇdîl lehavDil maḇ·di·lîm maḇ·dîl maḇdîl maḇdilîm mavDil mavdiLim niḇ·də·lū niḇdəlū nivdeLu taḇ·dîl taḇdîl tavDil ū·lă·haḇ·dîl ūlăhaḇdîl ulahavDil vaavDil vaavDilah vaiyavDel vaiyavdiLem vaiyavDilu vaiyibbaDel vaiyibbadeLu vehibbadeLu vehivdalTa vehivdalTem vehivdiLah vehivdiLo wā’aḇdil wā’aḇdîlāh wā·’aḇ·dî·lāh wā·’aḇ·dil way·yaḇ·dêl way·yaḇ·dî·lêm way·yaḇ·dî·lū way·yib·bā·ḏə·lū way·yib·bā·ḏêl wayyaḇdêl wayyaḇdîlêm wayyaḇdîlū wayyibbāḏêl wayyibbāḏəlū wə·hib·bā·ḏə·lū wə·hiḇ·dal·tā wə·hiḇ·dal·tem wə·hiḇ·dî·lāh wə·hiḇ·dî·lōw wəhibbāḏəlū wəhiḇdaltā wəhiḇdaltem wəhiḇdîlāh wəhiḇdîlōw yaḇ·dî·la·nî yaḇ·dî·lū yaḇ·dîl yaḇdîl yaḇdîlanî yaḇdîlū yavDil yavdiLani yavDilu yib·bā·ḏêl yibbaDel yibbāḏêlInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts