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יַבָּשָׁה

𐤉𐤁𐤔𐤄

yabbâshâh

H3004 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יבש to be dry, become dry, wither

Definition

The dry ground or land, particularly as distinct from bodies of water; the solid, uncovered earth. The term emphasizes dryness or absence of moisture, and is often used in contrast with seas or waterlogged terrain. In various contexts, it may refer to the exposed land appearing after division of waters or receding floods.

Semantic Range

dry land, dry ground, the solid earth as distinct from water, exposed land after water recedes or is divided

Root / Etymology

From the root יבש (y-b-sh), which carries the core idea of 'drying' or 'being dry.' יַבָּשָׁה is a feminine noun form derived from this root, signifying 'that which is dry' or 'the dry area.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

יַבָּשָׁה primarily denotes land as dry in relation to surrounding water, as seen in the accounts of creation (Genesis 1:9–10), the crossing of the sea by the Israelites (Exodus 14:16, 21, 22, 29), and similar moments where the emergence or accessibility of solid ground is a focus. The term often appears in narratives illustrating divine intervention, such as separating waters or facilitating passage. It is distinct from other Hebrew words for 'land' such as אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, a more general term for land, earth or territory), and מִדְבָּר (midbar, wilderness or steppe), and emphasizes the state of dryness rather than cultivated or inhabited characteristics. In later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the term retains its sense of physically dry earth in contrast to waterways or marshes. English translations typically render יַבָּשָׁה as 'dry ground' or 'dry land,' accurately capturing the lexical meaning, though the significance of contrast with water is sometimes muted in translation. There is no religious or ethnic implication to the term; its meaning is purely physical and descriptive.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָבֵשׁ; dry ground; dry (ground, land).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יבש (y-b-sh) — to be dry, become dry, wither

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3001 יָבֵשׁ to dry up
H3002 יָבֵשׁ the parched ones
H3003 יָבֵשׁ in Yabesh
H3006 יַבֶּשֶׁת parched ground
H3007 יַבֶּשֶׁת the dry land

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3004-02 הַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֑ה hayabashah HTd/Ncfsa the dry land the dry ground 5
H3004-01 בַּ/יַּבָּשָֽׁה bayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry ground on the dry land 4
H3004-05 בַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה vayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry ground in the dry land 2
H3004-06 יַבָּשָׁ֑ה yabashah HNcfsa the dry ground dry land 1
H3004-03 לַ/יַּבָּשָׁה֙ layabashah HRd/Ncfsa the dry land to the dry ground 1
H3004-04 לְֽ/יַבָּשָׁ֗ה leyabashah HR/Ncfsa into dry land to dry land 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3004-02 Genesis 1:9 הַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֑ה hayabashah HTd/Ncfsa the dry land the dry ground
H3004-03 Genesis 1:10 לַ/יַּבָּשָׁה֙ layabashah HRd/Ncfsa the dry land to the dry ground
H3004-02 Exodus 4:9 הַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֑ה hayabashah HTd/Ncfsa on the dry ground the dry ground
H3004-01 Exodus 14:16 בַּ/יַּבָּשָֽׁה bayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry land on the dry land
H3004-01 Exodus 14:22 בַּ/יַּבָּשָׁ֑ה bayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry ground on the dry land
H3004-05 Exodus 14:29 בַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה vayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry ground in the dry land
H3004-05 Exodus 15:19 בַ/יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה vayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry land in the dry land
H3004-01 Joshua 4:22 בַּ/יַּבָּשָׁה֙ bayabashah HRd/Ncfsa on dry ground on the dry land
H3004-06 Isaiah 44:3 יַבָּשָׁ֑ה yabashah HNcfsa the dry ground dry land
H3004-02 Jonah 1:9 הַ/יַּבָּשָֽׁה hayabashah HTd/Ncfsa dry land the dry ground
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