לְבָאוֹת
𐤋𐤁𐤀𐤅𐤕
Levaot
H3822 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Lebaoth, a place name in the southern region of ancient Judah, most likely denoting a location associated with 'lionesses' or, more generally, lions—possibly referencing local fauna or serving as a metaphorical or emblematic designation. As a common noun, this term is the plural of לָבִיא (laviʾ), meaning 'lionesses.'
Semantic Range
lionesses (fem. plural of לָבִיא); Lebaoth (place name in southern Judah); by extension, place of lionesses (metaphorical).
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ל-ב-א (לבא), meaning 'lion,' with the feminine plural suffix -וֹת, thus literally 'lionesses.' In the toponymic usage, this is likely a transferred sense, naming a settlement after the animal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Lebaoth appears in Joshua 15:32 as a town in the southern territory allotted to the Judahite tribe, among a list of settlements. Its alternate form בֵּית לְבָאוֹת (Beit Lebaoth), meaning 'house/place of Lebaoth,' appears in Joshua 19:6 and 1 Chronicles 4:31, sometimes associated with the Simeonite territorial inheritance. The term in its common noun form is rarely used in the Hebrew Bible outside these place names and derives from לָבִיא, 'lion.' Standard English translations such as 'Lebaoth' and 'Baaloth' preserve the toponym but typically do not render the underlying meaning. No evidence exists that the inhabitants were known for lion-hunting or associated cults, but the name attests to the use of animal imagery in biblical place names. The transition to the later territory of Judea sees the name disappear, with no direct continuity into Second Temple or later periods. Distinct from other animal-derived toponyms, Lebaoth is notable as a rare feminine plural in Hebrew geographical nomenclature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of לָבִיא; lionesses; Lebaoth, a place in Palestine; Lebaoth. See also בֵּית לְבָאוֹת.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לבא (l-b-ʾ) — lion, lionlike strength, fierce power
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3822-01 |
וּ/לְבָא֥וֹת | ulevaot | HC/Np |
Lebaoth | and Lionesses | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3822-01 |
Joshua 15:32 | וּ/לְבָא֥וֹת | ulevaot | HC/Np |
Lebaoth | and Lionesses |