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גְּבַל

𐤂𐤁𐤋

Geval

H1380 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבל to bound, delineate, enclose, border

Definition

Proper noun: Gebal, a region or city in the territory of Phoenicia, situated north of ancient Israel, known for its mountainous terrain. Primarily denotes a geographic location rather than a common noun or descriptive term. In some contexts, the word may refer to the region or its inhabitants.

Semantic Range

Gebal (Phoenician city or region); inhabitants of Gebal (Gebalites); region known for its boundaries or mountainous terrain

Root / Etymology

From the root גבל (g-b-l), generally meaning 'to bound, border, enclose.' The name גְּבַל (Gᵉbal) thus likely refers to a region notable for its boundaries or mountainous borders. The phonetic form aligns with the Ugaritic 'gbʿl' and Phoenician 'gb'l', attesting to the same place. The root suggests the sense of 'boundary, hill country,' but the word is used exclusively as a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גְּבַל (Gebal) refers specifically to a Phoenician city or region, identified with the coastal city Byblos, which was an important center for trade, writing, and religion in antiquity. The term appears in Psalm 83:7 among lists of nations opposed to Israel, and in Ezekiel 27:9 it refers to a people or craftsmen associated with Tyre, indicating both regional and occupational associations (notably skilled shipbuilders or caulkers). The usage is always specific to a foreign entity north of Israel, never referring to any Israelite territory or group. In post-biblical usage and later translations, the term was sometimes rendered as 'Gebalites,' referring to the inhabitants. The association with 'mountain' is secondary, derived from the region's geographical features rather than the word being a common noun for 'mountain.' English versions often transliterate as 'Gebal,' though in other ancient Near Eastern sources it is better known as Byblos.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּבַל (in the sense of a chain of hills); a mountain; Gebal, a place in Phoenicia; Gebal.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גבל (g-b-l) — to bound, border, enclose, delineate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1366 גְּבוּל in boundary of
H1367 גְּבוּלָה in boundary-lines of
H1379 גָּבַל they bounded
H1381 גְּבָל Gebal Borderland
H1382 גִּבְלִי the Gebalite

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1380-01 גְבַ֤ל geval HNp Gebal Gebal 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1380-01 Ezekiel 27:9 גְבַ֤ל geval HNp Gebal Gebal
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