עֲזֵקָה
𐤏𐤆𐤒𐤄
Azeqah
H5825 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to a specific fortified town or settlement in the Shephelah (lowlands) of ancient Judah; the primary sense is a place name rather than a descriptive term. The semantic range relates to the locality and its historical associations rather than a lexical meaning of 'tilled' or 'tilled place.'
Semantic Range
proper noun (place name), fortified settlement in Judah, geographic locality
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עזק (ʻ-z-q), which is of uncertain meaning in biblical Hebrew. While some suggest association with cultivation ('to till'), the root is not attested elsewhere in this sense, so the etymology remains uncertain. The specific formation עֲזֵקָה functions as a toponym, not a common noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Azekah appears in the Hebrew Bible as a fortified city in the Shephelah region, southwest of Jerusalem, within the historical territory of Judah. It is noted as a site of military significance during Israelite settlement and in later Judahite and post-exilic periods (e.g., Joshua 10:10–11; 15:35; 1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Chronicles 11:9; Nehemiah 11:30; Jeremiah 34:7). Archaeological and textual evidence indicates Azekah was a heavily fortified town, often standing as one of the last strongholds before Jerusalem, notably resisting Assyrian and later Babylonian campaigns. The meaning 'tilled' as suggested by Strong's rests on tenuous etymological grounds. English translations use the name 'Azekah,' following LXX and Vulgate traditions, but Azekah is not used as a generic term for a field or cultivated area in biblical texts; its occurrence is exclusively as a place name. The term does not refer to ethnic, religious, or social identities, but only to geographic location and significance. No evidence supports applying the later English term 'Palestine' anachronistically to this period; the region should be described as part of ancient Judah or the Shephelah.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָזַק; tilled; Azekah, a place in Palestine; Azekah.
Bantu Hebrew
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עזק (ʿ-z-q) — uncertain; possibly enclosing, cultivating (unattested in biblical usage)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5825-01 |
עֲזֵקָ֖ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah | 6 |
H5825-02 |
וַ/עֲזֵקָֽה | vaazeqah | HC/Np |
and Azekah | and Azekah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5825-01 |
Joshua 10:10 | עֲזֵקָ֖ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |
H5825-01 |
Joshua 10:11 | עֲזֵקָ֖ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |
H5825-02 |
Joshua 15:35 | וַ/עֲזֵקָֽה | vaazeqah | HC/Np |
and Azekah | and Azekah |
H5825-01 |
1 Samuel 17:1 | עֲזֵקָ֖ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |
H5825-01 |
Jeremiah 34:7 | עֲזֵקָ֔ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |
H5825-01 |
Nehemiah 11:30 | עֲזֵקָ֖ה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |
H5825-01 |
2 Chronicles 11:9 | עֲזֵקָֽה | azeqah | HNp |
Azekah | Azeqah |