גַּבְנֹן
𐤂𐤁𐤍𐤍
gabnôn
H1386 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A rounded, elevated hill or mound; specifically, a protuberant or hump-like high place in the landscape. The term denotes a distinct, noticeable swelling of terrain, often used to describe a knoll, hilltop, or the prominent part of a hill.
Semantic Range
rounded hill, hump, bulging mound, protuberant hilltop, convex elevation, swelling of land
Root / Etymology
From the root גָּבַן (g-b-n), meaning 'to be convex, to be humped' or 'to have a swelling or protuberance.' The noun גַּבְנֹן is a formation indicating 'that which is humped or bulged,' hence applied metaphorically and literally to hills or prominences.
Historical & Contextual Notes
גַּבְנֹן is a rare term in biblical Hebrew, found in poetic or descriptive contexts to highlight the shape and prominence of particular landforms (e.g., in Psalms 68:16 describing the majestic peaks of Bashan). Its usage is notably concrete, drawing attention to the physical aspect of the terrain rather than representing a symbolic or abstract idea. English translations sometimes render it as 'peak,' 'hill,' or 'high hill,' but may fail to convey the nuance of roundness or hump-backed shape. The form is related to, but distinct from, more general terms for 'mountain' (הַר) or 'hill' (גִּבְעָה), reflecting an emphasis on shape rather than sheer height or size. There is no later, significant semantic shift, although post-biblical Hebrew rarely uses the term. The Strong's gloss 'high' is too generic; the biblical emphasis is specifically on the protuberance or rounded prominence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as גִּבֵּן; a hump or peak of hills; high.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבן (g-b-n) — convexity, bulging, swelling, humped form
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1385 | גְּבִנָה | and like curdled milk |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1386-01 |
גַּ֝בְנֻנִּ֗ים | gavenunim | HNcmpa |
lofty | hump-like hills | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1386-01 |
Psalms 68:16 | גַּ֝בְנֻנִּ֗ים | gavenunim | HNcmpa |
of peaks | hump-like hills |
H1386-01 |
Psalms 68:17 | גַּבְנֻ֫נִּ֥ים | gavenunim | HNcmpa |
lofty | hump-like hills |