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גִּבְעַת

𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤕

Giveat

H1394 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גבע to rise, to be elevated, hill, mound

Definition

A proper place name meaning 'hill' or 'hill region,' referring specifically to a location identified as Gibeath in the Hebrew Bible. The term denotes a settlement or geographical area distinguished by elevated or hilly terrain, emphasizing its topographic distinctiveness rather than urban or tribal identity.

Semantic Range

hill, hilly region, a specific hill-top settlement, Gibeath (proper place name), a physical elevation serving as a landmark or settlement base

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root גב"ע (g-b-ʿ), which means 'hill' or 'mound.' The word גִּבְעַת (Gibʻath) is a feminine form, related to גִּבְעָה (gib‘āh, 'hill'). It is derived directly from the root and forms the basis of several toponyms in the Hebrew Bible. There is a phonetic and semantic connection to גְּבִיעַ (gᵉvîa‘, 'cup, bowl'), both referring to rounded or raised forms, but the lexeme גבע specifically refers to elevated landforms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The place name גִּבְעַת (Gibeath) occurs as a geographic designation distinguishing a settlement or area by its hilly terrain—often in proximity to major routes or central regions in the territory of Benjamin, as in Judges 20:31. Unlike the more prominent Gibeah (גִּבְעָה), which became infamous for the events in Judges, Gibeath is less frequently mentioned and is not always easily distinguishable from other similar-sounding place names. There is potential for confusion with related toponyms such as Gibeah or Gibeon, which also derive from the root גבע but designate different locations. In ancient Israelite societal context, hilltop settlements played significant defensive, administrative, and cultic roles; the term may have carried overtones of both natural prominence and community status. English translations may render Gibeath as 'the hill,' 'Gibeath,' or assimilate it to the broader category of hill-country settlements, sometimes obscuring its distinct geographical identity. The name was not used to denote ethnic or religious identity but rather described the location's physical characteristics. In some post-biblical usage and translation traditions, Gibeath and related names became conflated, particularly where territorial borders were ambiguous or changed over time.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as גְּבִיעַ; hilliness; Gibath; Gibeath.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1394-01 גִּבְעַ֣ת giveat HNp Gibeah hill of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1394-01 Joshua 18:28 גִּבְעַ֣ת giveat HNp Gibeah hill of
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