Ζαβουλών
Zaboulṓn
G2194 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun indicating the tribal territory and descendants of Zebulun, one of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel. In Greek texts, Ζαβουλών refers to: (1) the descendant Zebulun himself, (2) the tribe descended from him, or (3) the geographic territory traditionally allotted to them in northern Israel. The core meaning is that of a patronymic and territorial designation, rather than an ethnic or religious label. Secondary senses include the use as a regional reference in literary and administrative contexts.
Semantic Range
proper name for the individual Zebulun, designation of a tribe descended from Zebulun, name of the territory allotted to the tribe, regional or geographic reference in Greek literary and administrative contexts
Root / Etymology
From Hebrew זְבוּלוּן (Zevulun) or זְבֻלוּן, a proper name and eponym for one of the traditional tribes of Israel. The Greek form is a transliteration of the Hebrew, likely through the Septuagint tradition. The Hebrew etymology is uncertain, possibly related to the root זבל (to honor, to dwell) or a theophoric element.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ζαβουλών appears in the Septuagint and the New Testament as the standard Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Zebulun, referencing either the individual son of Jacob/Israel (Genesis narratives), his tribe, or the region in northern Israel associated with them. In Hellenistic and Roman texts, it denotes a geographic district rather than a political state. In the New Testament (notably Matthew 4:13, 4:15), its use alludes to prophetic traditions about the land allotted to the tribe. Standard English translations often render the term as 'Zebulun,' matching the underlying Hebrew, but in some older sources it is rendered 'Zabulon.' Unlike some place names, Ζαβουλών retained its ancestral-not geographic emphasis in Greek sources, standing as a testament to the continuity between Hebrew and Greek biblical tradition. There is no evidence the term evolved into a broader ethnic or religious identity beyond its specific Israelite context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (זְבוּלוּן); Zabulon (i.e. Zebulon), a region of Palestine:--Zabulon.
Root Family
Ζαβουλών (Zaboulōn) — tribe of Zebulun, territory of Zebulun, descendant of Zebulun
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2194-01 |
Ζαβουλὼν | zaboulon | N GEN M SG |
of Zebulun | of Zebulun | Zaboulon | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2194-01 |
Matthew 4:13 | Ζαβουλὼν | zaboulon | N GEN M SG |
Zebulun | of Zebulun | Zaboulon |
G2194-01 |
Matthew 4:15 | Ζαβουλὼν | zaboulon | N GEN M SG |
of Zebulun | of Zebulun | Zaboulon |
G2194-01 |
Revelation 7:8 | Ζαβουλὼν | zaboulon | N GEN M SG |
Zabulon | of Zebulun | Zaboulon |