גִּבְּתוֹן
𐤂𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤍
Gibeton
H1405 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gibbethon: a specific settlement mentioned in territorial lists assigned to the descendants of Dan and later referenced as a site of conflict during early monarchic history. The name likely denotes a place situated on an elevation or hillock, reflecting the landscape of the location, rather than functioning as a common noun for 'hill.'
Semantic Range
name of a specific settlement, place situated on a hill or elevation, Levitical city in the tribal territory of Dan, location of military conflict
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root גבע (g-b-ʿ), meaning 'hill, elevation.' The formation גִּבְּתוֹן incorporates a common toponymic suffix, creating a place-name that connotes 'site of an elevation' or 'hilly place.' Root is גבע; core meaning 'hill, mound.' Word formed as an intensive or augmentative place-name of the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Gibbethon appears in the territorial allotment for the descendants of Dan (Josh 19:44) and as a Levitical city (Josh 21:23), later being occupied and contested by Philistines during the early monarchy (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15-17). The term is not a generic descriptor, but a proper name referring specifically to this location. Unlike the general noun גִּבְעָה (hill, mound), גִּבְּתוֹן functions only as a toponym. In later Greek and English translations, it is retained as a proper name, sometimes rendered with forms such as 'Gibbethon.' The association with the tribe of Dan and conflict with Philistines provides insight into shifting control in the Shephelah region during the monarchic period. No religious or cultural identity is encoded by the name itself. The later use of similar place-names (e.g., Gibeah, Gibeon) does not indicate identity or function beyond topographical description.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
intensive from גִּבְעָה; a hilly spot; Gibbethon, a place in Palestine; Gibbethon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבע (g-b-ʿ) — hill, mound, elevation
| 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
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1405-02 |
גִּבְּת֖וֹן | gibeton | HNp |
Gibbethon | High Hill-Place | 3 |
H1405-03 |
מִֽ/גִּבְּת֑וֹן | migibeton | HR/Np |
from Gibbethon | from Hill-Height | 1 |
H1405-04 |
וְ/גִבְּת֖וֹן | vegibeton | HC/Np |
and Gibbethon | and Hill-Height | 1 |
H1405-01 |
בְּ/גִבְּת֖וֹן | begibeton | HR/Np |
at Gibbethon | in Hillock-Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1405-04 |
Joshua 19:44 | וְ/גִבְּת֖וֹן | vegibeton | HC/Np |
and Gibbethon | and Hill-Height |
H1405-02 |
Joshua 21:23 | גִּבְּת֖וֹן | gibeton | HNp |
Gibbethon | High Hill-Place |
H1405-01 |
1 Kings 15:27 | בְּ/גִבְּת֖וֹן | begibeton | HR/Np |
at Gibbethon | in Hillock-Place |
H1405-02 |
1 Kings 15:27 | גִּבְּתֽוֹן | gibeton | HNp |
Gibbethon | High Hill-Place |
H1405-02 |
1 Kings 16:15 | גִּבְּת֖וֹן | gibeton | HNp |
Gibbethon | High Hill-Place |
H1405-03 |
1 Kings 16:17 | מִֽ/גִּבְּת֑וֹן | migibeton | HR/Np |
from Gibbethon | from Hill-Height |