קַבְצְאֵל
𐤒𐤁𐤑𐤀𐤋
Qavetseel
H6909 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Qabtsə'ēl is a proper noun referring to a place name, designating a specific settlement within the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah in the southern region of ancient Israel. The name means 'El has gathered' or 'God gathers,' reflecting the structure of the name as a theophoric compound: a verb (to gather) with a divine element (El). The semantic range is primarily toponymic, but its etymology conveys the notion of gathering or assembly under divine initiative.
Semantic Range
toponym (place name), 'El gathers,' 'God has gathered,' designation of a Judahite settlement, personal association (resident of Qabtsə'ēl)
Root / Etymology
Qabtsə'ēl (קַבְצְאֵל) is a compound of the Hebrew root קבץ (to gather, collect) and אֵל (El, a general term for 'God' in Northwest Semitic languages). The name literally means 'El gathers' or 'God has gathered.' The construction follows a common Israelite naming formula that attributes an action or quality to the deity El. Notably, the root-level meaning (to gather) does not refer to the function of the site but is likely meant to invoke divine action, possibly commemorating a historical event or tradition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Qabtsə'ēl is mentioned in Joshua 15:21 as part of the territorial allotments to the Judahites, specifically in the Negeb (southern) region, and later as the home of Benaiah son of Jehoiada (2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Chronicles 11:22), a prominent warrior in David's elite force. The name reflects a typical theophoric place-name formation of the First Temple period; its use indicates an Israelite/Judahite settlement with theological undertones attributed to the act of divine gathering. English translations sometimes render the name as 'Kabzeel,' following English transliteration conventions. There is no evidence the site was known as 'Kabzeel' outside biblical literature. The comparison with יְקַבְצְאֵל, a similar theophoric form, suggests a pattern in naming, though Qabtsə'ēl is the standard form found in the Judahite context. No substantial evidence exists for continued use of the name outside the Hebrew Bible, nor for its association with later Judean or post-exilic developments. The definition should not be conflated with any religious identity associated with the later term 'Jew.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָבַץ and אֵל; God has gathered; Kabtseel, a place in Palestine; Kabzeel. Compare יְקַבְצְאֵל.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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קבץ-אל (q-b-ts-ʾ-l) — to gather, collect; El (God)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6909-02 |
קַבְצְאֵ֥ל | qavetseel | HNp |
Kabzeel | El-Has-Gathered | 2 |
H6909-01 |
מִֽ/קַּבְצְאֵ֑ל | miqavetseel | HR/Np |
of Kabzeel | El-Gathers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6909-02 |
Joshua 15:21 | קַבְצְאֵ֥ל | qavetseel | HNp |
Kabzeel | El-Has-Gathered |
H6909-01 |
2 Samuel 23:20 | מִֽ/קַּבְצְאֵ֑ל | miqavetseel | HR/Np |
of Kabzeel | El-Gathers |
H6909-02 |
1 Chronicles 11:22 | קַבְצְאֵ֑ל | qavetseel | HNp |
Kabzeel | El-Has-Gathered |