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גִּבְעָה

𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤄

Giveah

H1389 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבע to be high, to be elevated, to rise

Definition

A natural elevation of land less prominent or less extensive than a mountain, often translated as 'hill' or 'hill country.' In some cases, can refer to a specific natural rise used for settlement, cultic practice, or as a topographical marker. The word can function both as a generic term for a hill and as a toponym referring to a particular locality (e.g., Gibeah).

Semantic Range

hill, hillock, knoll, elevated place, (toponym) Gibeah, (by metonymy) settlement or site on a hill

Root / Etymology

From the root גבע (g-b-‘), meaning 'to be high, to be elevated.' The form גִּבְעָה is a feminine noun denoting 'height, hill.' The related term גֶּבַע (gebá‘) is a masculine noun of similar meaning; both derive from the root expressing elevation or prominence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical corpus, גִּבְעָה most often denotes a natural hill or elevated area, distinguishing it from הַר (har), 'mountain,' which refers to larger or more rugged elevations. In certain periods, especially during the monarchic era, גִּבְעָה is associated with cultic sites on elevated ground, known as 'high places' (bāmôt), but it does not itself mean 'high place'; instead, it denotes the physical geography later associated with such use. In narrative and geographic texts, it can be both a generic noun and a location name (e.g., Gibeah of Benjamin). The English translations 'hill' or 'hillock' are generally adequate for the physical feature, but do not fully capture situational or geographical nuances in some contexts. Over time, the use of גִּבְעָה as a toponym persists into later periods, whereas its use as a term for cultic locations becomes less prominent. Not to be confused with גֶּבַע (gebá‘), which is masculine and less frequently serves as a place name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine from the same as גֶּבַע; a hillock; hill, little hill.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גבע (g-b-ʿ) — to be high, to be elevated, to rise

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1360 גֶּבֶא from a collecting-pool
H1375 גְּבִיעַ goblet of
H1387 גֶּבַע in Gebaʿ
H1388 גִּבְעָא Hill-Town
H1390 גִּבְעָה in the Hill

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1389-04 גִּבְעָ֖ה giveah HNcfsa hill hill 11
H1389-10 הַ/גְּבָע֔וֹת hagevaot HTd/Ncfpa the hills the hills 10
H1389-03 גְּבָעוֹת֙ gevaot HNcfpa the hills hills 8
H1389-05 גִּבְעַ֖ת giveat HNcfsc the hill hill of 6
H1389-20 וְ/לַ/גְּבָע֜וֹת velagevaot HC/Rd/Ncfpa and to the hills and to the hills 4
H1389-19 וְ/הַ/גְּבָע֖וֹת vehagevaot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the hills and the hills 4
H1389-16 וּ/גְבָע֖וֹת ugevaot HC/Ncfpa and the hills and hills 4
H1389-02 בְּ/גִבְעַת֙ begiveat HR/Ncfsc in Gibeah in (the) hill of 4
H1389-14 מִ/גְּבָע֑וֹת migevaot HR/Ncfpa above the hills from elevated hills 3
H1389-08 גִּבְעֹ֣ת giveot HNcfpc hills hills of 3

Occurrences in Scripture

71 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1389-08 Genesis 49:26 גִּבְעֹ֣ת giveot HNcfpc hills hills of
H1389-11 Exodus 17:9 הַ/גִּבְעָ֔ה hagiveah HTd/Ncfsa of the hill the hill
H1389-11 Exodus 17:10 הַ/גִּבְעָֽה hagiveah HTd/Ncfsa of the hill the hill
H1389-17 Numbers 23:9 וּ/מִ/גְּבָע֖וֹת umigevaot HC/R/Ncfpa and from the hills and from hills
H1389-10 Deuteronomy 12:2 הַ/גְּבָע֔וֹת hagevaot HTd/Ncfpa the hills the hills
H1389-08 Deuteronomy 33:15 גִּבְע֥וֹת giveot HNcfpc of the hills hills of
H1389-05 Joshua 5:3 גִּבְעַ֖ת giveat HNcfsc the hill hill of
H1389-02 Joshua 24:33 בְּ/גִבְעַת֙ begiveat HR/Ncfsc in Gibeah in (the) hill of
H1389-15 Judges 7:1 מִ/גִּבְעַ֥ת migiveat HR/Ncfsc from-hill from a hill of
H1389-01 1 Samuel 7:1 בַּ/גִּבְעָ֑ה bagiveah HRd/Ncfsa on the hill in the hill-height
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