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אֶשְׁתָּאֹל

𐤀𐤔𐤕𐤀𐤋

Eshetaol

H847 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שאל to ask, request, inquire

Definition

Eshtaol – a geographic location in the Shephelah (lowland) region of ancient Judahite territory. The town is frequently referenced as a boundary settlement, notably in association with Zorah, and is featured in narratives related to the tribe of Dan, particularly in the account of Samson's borders and burial. The primary lexical meaning is the proper name of a town, not a common noun. The semantic range is restricted to its function as a place name.

Semantic Range

Eshtaol (place name), border town in Judahite and Danite territory; no common noun usage

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root is שָׁאַל (sha'al), 'to ask, request, inquire.' The connection between the root meaning and the place name is uncertain; the name Eshtaol may derive from a phrase or function preserved from an earlier Canaanite context, but its specific formative sense is obscure. Forms appear as אֶשְׁתָּאֹל or אֶשְׁתָּאוֹל in the text. Thus, the etymology is ultimately uncertain, though tradition connects it to 'petition' or 'entreaty.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: Eshtaol is listed within the allotments to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:33) and is strongly associated with Danite activity (Judges 13:25; 16:31; 18:2, 8, 11–12), particularly as a starting point for migration and exploration. The site is also prominent in traditions about Samson, marking the boundary region between Judahite and Danite settlements. Its locative function is primary; it is not used as a personal name and does not carry religious or ethnic connotations beyond designating a town. In post-biblical periods, the site remained known, but its precise location is debated (often identified near modern-day esh-Sheikh). English translations conventionally render the term as 'Eshtaol,' preserving the Hebrew place-name without intended semantic meaning. The association of the name with 'entreaty' in Strong's is based on folk etymology and does not necessarily reflect how the name functioned or was understood in biblical contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אֶשְׁתָּאוֹל; probably from שָׁאַל; intreaty; Eshtaol, a place in Palestine; Eshtaol.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאל (š-ʾ-l) — to ask, request, inquire

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4861 מִשְׁאָל Asking-town
H4862 מִשְׁאָלָה petitions of
H7585 שְׁאוֹל in the underworld
H7586 שָׁאוּל to Shaul
H7587 שָׁאוּלִי the Shaulite

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H847-01 אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל eshetaol HNp Eshtaol Eshtaol 3
H847-02 וּ/מֵֽ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל umeeshetaol HC/R/Np and from Eshtaol and from Eshtaol 2
H847-03 וְ/אֶשְׁתָּא֖וֹל veeshetaol HC/Np and Eshtaol and Eshtaol 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H847-01 Joshua 15:33 אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל eshetaol HNp Eshtaol Eshtaol
H847-03 Joshua 19:41 וְ/אֶשְׁתָּא֖וֹל veeshetaol HC/Np and Eshtaol and Eshtaol
H847-01 Judges 13:25 אֶשְׁתָּאֹֽל eshetaol HNp Eshtaol Eshtaol
H847-01 Judges 16:31 אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֔ל eshetaol HNp Eshtaol Eshtaol
H847-02 Judges 18:2 וּ/מֵֽ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל umeeshetaol HC/R/Np and from Eshtaol and from Eshtaol
H847-03 Judges 18:8 וְ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל veeshetaol HC/Np and Eshtaol and Eshtaol
H847-02 Judges 18:11 וּ/מֵ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל umeeshetaol HC/R/Np and from Eshtaol and from Eshtaol
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