יְקַבְצְאֵל
𐤉𐤒𐤁𐤑𐤀𐤋
Yeqavetseel
H3343 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Yeqabtse'el is a proper name designating a specific geographic location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, most likely a settlement or town. The name literally means 'El (God) gathers' or 'God will gather,' combining the concept of gathering (from the root קבץ, to collect, assemble, gather) with the divine name El. Over time, the term functions almost exclusively as a place name and does not appear as a common noun or verb form. In the biblical context, it refers specifically to a town in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, and is later referenced as a location reinhabited during the post-exilic period.
Semantic Range
toponym (place name): 'God has gathered,' 'God will gather'; the name of a town in the Negeb region allotted to Judah; place of resettlement post-exile; proper name
Root / Etymology
Formed from the Hebrew root קבץ (q-b-ts, 'to gather, collect') and the theophoric element אֵל ('El,' a common Semitic word for God). The name is a compound suggesting either an action of God (i.e., 'God gathers') or a statement of faith in God's ability to bring together or assemble.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Yeqabtse'el first appears in Joshua 15:21 as one of the southernmost towns inherited by the tribe of Judah in the Israelite settlement of Canaan. It is mentioned again in Nehemiah 11:25 as a place reoccupied by the descendants of Israel after the Babylonian exile, indicating its geographic and perhaps symbolic importance in delineating Judah's boundaries. The construction follows a typical biblical Hebrew pattern where theophoric names combine a verbal element with the divine name El, indicating a relation between Yahweh/El and the fate or status of the town. The KJV renders it 'Jekabzeel,' but this is a transliteration and does not convey the Hebrew semantic meaning. In most instances, the name does not refer to a person or carry broader theological implications within the narrative but serves simply as a toponym. The Septuagint often transliterates or slightly adapts the name. This place name is distinct from other related roots or names formed from קבץ and should not be confused with קַבְצְאֵל (Qabts’el), a variant with similar formation and meaning, attested in parallel passages.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָבַץ and אֵל; God will gather; Jekabtseel, a place in Palestine; Jekabzeel. Compare קַבְצְאֵל.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קבץ (q-b-ts) — to gather, collect, assemble
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6899 | קִבּוּץ | your gatherings |
| H6908 | קָבַץ | I will gather together |
| H6910 | קְבֻצָה | gathered company of |
| H6911 | קִבְצַיִם | Double Gathering-Place |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3343-01 |
וּ/בִֽ/יקַּבְצְאֵ֖ל | uviqavetseel | HC/R/Np |
and in Jekabzeel | and in God-gathers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3343-01 |
Nehemiah 11:25 | וּ/בִֽ/יקַּבְצְאֵ֖ל | uviqavetseel | HC/R/Np |
and in Jekabzeel | and in God-gathers |