צְבֹעִים
𐤑𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤌
Tsevoim
H6650 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tsᵉbô'îym refers primarily to a toponym—one or more locations in the Hebrew Bible, typically rendered 'Zeboim' in English translations. The name is a plural form presumably meaning 'hyenas.' It appears as the designation of a city near Sodom destroyed in the patriarchal narratives (Genesis 10:19; 14:2, 8; Deuteronomy 29:23; Hosea 11:8), as well as of a valley (1 Samuel 13:18), and a post-exilic settlement inhabited by returned exiles (Nehemiah 11:34). The term can refer generally to a place associated with wild animals, but in the biblical context, it specifically names distinct geographic locations.
Semantic Range
hyenas (literal, plural of צָבוּעַ); name of a city near Sodom; name of a valley in Benjaminite territory; name of a post-exilic settlement
Root / Etymology
From the root צ-ב-ע (צָבוּעַ), meaning 'hyena,' possibly from the Arabic ṣabūʿ ('hyena'). The plural form צְבֹעִים ('hyenas') becomes a place name. There is no evidence of a literal population of hyenas at these sites; instead, the name probably reflects either an association with wildness or a perceived resemblance to the animal's habitat.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsᵉbô'îym, as used throughout the Hebrew Bible, designates three different contexts: (1) one of the five 'cities of the plain' destroyed alongside Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 10:19; 14:2, 8; Deuteronomy 29:23), (2) a valley in the Benjaminite highlands (1 Samuel 13:18), and (3) a site inhabited by returnees from Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:34). Although English translations often render צְבֹעִים as 'Zeboim,' the underlying sense is rooted in the animal name 'hyenas,' potentially indicating the area's wild nature. There is no evidence that the area was specifically inhabited by hyenas, nor does the usage directly imply animal worship or totemic significance. Unlike later periods where territorial boundaries shifted (e.g., Judean vs. Israelite lands), the term strictly functions as a place name in biblical contexts. The meaning has not shifted across periods but may reflect different locales or different traditions about the same name. Standard English translations do not capture the animal aspect embedded in the Hebrew name, thus subtly narrowing its original connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of צָבוּעַ; hyenas; Tseboim, a place in Palestine; Zeboim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צבע (ṣ-b-ʿ) — to be colored, variegated; spotted; hyena
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6641 | צָבוּעַ | dyed-patterned one |
| H6647 | צְבַע | the ones immersing |
| H6648 | צֶבַע | dyed fabrics |
| H6649 | צִבְעוֹן | to Variegated-One |
| H676 | אֶצְבַּע | grasping digits |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6650-01 |
הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים | hatsevoim | HNp |
of Zeboim | the Hyenas | 1 |
H6650-02 |
צְבֹעִ֖ים | tsevoim | HNp |
Zeboim | Hyenas | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6650-01 |
1 Samuel 13:18 | הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים | hatsevoim | HNp |
of Zeboim | the Hyenas |
H6650-02 |
Nehemiah 11:34 | צְבֹעִ֖ים | tsevoim | HNp |
Zeboim | Hyenas |