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גִּבְעָה

𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤄

Giveah

H1390 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבע to be high, raised, hill, mound

Definition

A hill or elevated height, often referring to a distinct topographical feature. As a proper noun, the name of several specific sites in ancient Israelite territory known for their hilly prominence. In many biblical texts, it designates a particular settlement situated on or identified with a hill, especially the well-known Gibeah of Benjamin. Semantic range: (1) a general hill or mound; (2) a specific settlement or locality named Gibeah, both in narrative and in geographic lists.

Semantic Range

hill, mound, elevated ground; settlement on a hill; specific locale named Gibeah

Root / Etymology

From the root גבע (g-b-ʿ), which conveys the sense of 'hill' or 'height.' The form גִּבְעָה is a feminine noun derived from this root, literally meaning 'hill.' As a proper noun (Gibʻâh), it retains the basic sense but functions as a toponym, naming places associated with notable hills.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גִּבְעָה appears both as a common noun ('hill') and as a proper noun ('Gibeah'). Most famously, 'Gibeah of Benjamin' is the scene of the violent episode in Judges 19–21 and the home of Saul, the first Israelite king (1 Samuel 10:26; 15:34). Other locations named Gibeah include sites in Judah and Ephraim. The term does not distinguish between natural hills and settlement sites; context determines if it refers to a topographic feature or a settled place on a hill. Later English translations, including the KJV, often treat 'Gibeah' as a place name, but the original word encompasses both broader and specific geographic senses. The term contrasts with other Hebrew words for elevation, such as הַר (har, 'mountain'), which refers to larger or more significant mountains/hill-country, or תֵּל (tel, 'mound'), which especially denotes ruins or archaeological mounds. Over Israelite history, hills were often sites of settlements, religious activity, or defense, hence the frequency of 'hill' in toponyms.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as גִּבְעָה; Gibah; the name of three places in Palestine; Gibeah, the hill.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גבע (g-b-ʿ) — to be high, raised, hill, mound

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1360 גֶּבֶא from a collecting-pool
H1375 גְּבִיעַ goblet of
H1387 גֶּבַע in Gebaʿ
H1388 גִּבְעָא Hill-Town
H1389 גִּבְעָה in the hill-height

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1390-07 הַ/גִּבְעָ֖ה hagiveah HTd/Np Gibeah the hill 15
H1390-01 בַּ/גִּבְעָ֑ה bagiveah HRd/Np in Gibeah in the Hill 6
H1390-05 גִּבְעַ֣ת giveat HNp Gibeah hill of 4
H1390-08 הַ/גִּבְעָ֨תָ/ה֙ hagiveatah HTd/Np/Sd Gibeah toward the Hill-settlement 4
H1390-02 בְּ/גִבְעַ֖ת begiveat HR/Np in Gibeah in hill of 3
H1390-04 גִּבְעָ֣ה giveah HNp Gibeah Hill-Height 3
H1390-09 לַ/גִּבְעָ֑ה lagiveah HRd/Np to Gibeah to Hill-town 2
H1390-06 גִּבְעָ֨תָ/ה֙ giveatah HNp/Sd Gibeah toward Hill-town 2
H1390-10 מִ/גִּבְעַ֖ת migiveat HR/Np from Gibeah from hill of 2
H1390-03 גָֽבַע gava HNp of Gibeah he expired 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1390-04 Joshua 15:57 גִּבְעָ֣ה giveah HNp Gibeah Hill-Height
H1390-04 Judges 19:12 גִּבְעָֽה giveah HNp Gibeah Hill-Height
H1390-11 Judges 19:13 בַ/גִּבְעָ֖ה vagiveah HRd/Np in Gibeah in the Hill-place
H1390-07 Judges 19:14 הַ/גִּבְעָ֖ה hagiveah HTd/Np Gibeah the hill
H1390-01 Judges 19:15 בַּ/גִּבְעָ֑ה bagiveah HRd/Np in Gibeah in the Hill
H1390-01 Judges 19:16 בַּ/גִּבְעָ֑ה bagiveah HRd/Np in Gibeah in the Hill
H1390-08 Judges 20:4 הַ/גִּבְעָ֨תָ/ה֙ hagiveatah HTd/Np/Sd Gibeah toward the Hill-settlement
H1390-07 Judges 20:5 הַ/גִּבְעָ֔ה hagiveah HTd/Np Gibeah the hill
H1390-09 Judges 20:9 לַ/גִּבְעָ֑ה lagiveah HRd/Np to Gibeah to Hill-town
H1390-01 Judges 20:13 בַּ/גִּבְעָה֙ bagiveah HRd/Np are in Gibeah in the Hill
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