Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. i.) To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the enclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a bladder swells by inflation. 2. (v. i.) To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force; as, a river swells, and overflows its banks; sounds swell or diminish. 3. (v. i.) To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves. 4. (v. i.) To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride. 5. (v. i.) To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell. 6. (v. i.) To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style. 7. (v. i.) To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle. 8. (v. i.) To be elated; to rise arrogantly. 9. (v. i.) To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. 10. (v. i.) To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount. 11. (v. i.) To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. 12. (v. t.) To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the population. 13. (v. t.) To aggravate; to heighten. 14. (v. t.) To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. 15. (v. t.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note. 16. (n.) The act of swelling. 17. (n.) Gradual increase. 18. (n.) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. 19. (n.) Increase in height; elevation; rise. 20. (n.) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound. 21. (n.) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force. 22. (n.) A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells. 23. (n.) A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor. 24. (n.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign. 25. (n.) A showy, dashing person; a dandy. 26. (a.) Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SWELL swel (tsabhah): In the ordeal of the Water of Jealousy described in Numbers 5:11-31 (P), the effect on the unfaithful wife ot the drinking of the holy water was to cause the thigh to fall away (Revised Version) or rot (the King James Version) and the abdomen to "swell." This ceremonial was a direct appeal to the judgment of God, for there was nothing in the holy water (taken from the laver) or the dust of the temple which was mixed with it to produce this effect. In the Talmudic tract Cotah there are given many rabbinical opinions and particulars as to the procedure in later times. Apparently from the passage in Numbers, the judgment speedily followed the appeal, but according to Sotah, iii.4, it might be postponed even for four years, and in v.1, it is said to have produced the same effect on the adulterer as on the unfaithful wife. We have no details as to the nature or permanency of the swelling. "Swell" as the translation of another word, batseq, is used in the sense of blistering of the feet from long tramping. Both in Deuteronomy 8:4 and Nehemiah 9:21 it is said that in spite of their long wilderness marches the feet of the Israelites did not swell. This was a token of divine protection. See SWOLLEN. Alexander Macalister

Multi-Version Concordance Swell (9 Occurrences) Acts 28:6 They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. (WEY WBS NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 5:21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, "Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 5:22 and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away." The woman shall say, "Amen, Amen." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 5:27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled, and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away: and the woman will be a curse among her people. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Deuteronomy 8:4 Your clothing didn't grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Nehemiah 9:21 Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Job 40:23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth. (Root in WEB ASV) Psalms 73:7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit. (See RSV) Isaiah 60:5 Then you will see, and be bright with joy, and your heart will be shaking with increase of delight: for the produce of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you. (See NIV)