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גְּבָל

𐤂𐤁𐤋

Geval

H1381 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבל to bound, mark a border, establish a boundary

Definition

Proper noun designating a geographic region or city in the southern Levant, specifically Gebal. In biblical usage, refers to the area inhabited by the Gebalites, a people or polity likely located near Edom (southern Transjordan or northwestern Arabia), or possibly to another locale with the same name.

Semantic Range

proper name of a region, territory with defined borders, homeland of the Gebalites; city or district adjacent to Edom; possibly boundary marker

Root / Etymology

From root גבל (g-b-l), meaning 'border, boundary, territory, to bound'. 'גְּבָל' here serves as a toponym derived from this concept, denoting a location defined by its border or limits.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, 'גְּבָל' appears primarily in Psalm 83:7 as an ethnonym or geographic designation, often grouped with other southern or eastern peoples opposed to Israel, such as the Edomites and Ammonites. The Septuagint and later translations sometimes render 'Gebal' as a proper name for a place or people, and at times connect it (incorrectly) with the Phoenician city of Byblos, also called 'Gebal' (distinct in location and historical context). In Ezekiel 27:9, a similarly spelled word ('גְבַלִּים', Gebalim) appears in reference to skilled craftspeople from Byblos, but the identification in Psalm 83:7 is distinct and likely not identical to the Phoenician city. English translations often simply transliterate 'Gebal', which can obscure its geographic and ethnic specificity in the original text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as גְּבַל; Gebal, a region in Idumaea; Gebal.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גבל (g-b-l) — to bound, mark a border, establish a boundary

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1366 גְּבוּל in boundary of
H1367 גְּבוּלָה in boundary-lines of
H1379 גָּבַל they bounded
H1380 גְּבַל Gebal
H1382 גִּבְלִי the Gebalite

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1381-01 גְּבָ֣ל geval HNp Gebal Gebal Borderland 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1381-01 Psalms 83:8 גְּבָ֣ל geval HNp Gebal Gebal Borderland
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