בִּזְיוֹתְיָה
𐤁𐤆𐤉𐤅𐤕𐤉𐤄
Bizeyoteyah
H964 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a specific location; likely meaning 'Yahweh is despised' or 'place of despising Yahweh', derived from the verbal root 'to despise' and the theophoric element referring to Yahweh. Functions as a geographical designation in the context of tribal allotments in the book of Joshua.
Semantic Range
proper place name, contempt toward Yahweh, site associated with disrespect or disdain for Yahweh
Root / Etymology
Compound formation from the root בָּזָה (bazah, 'to despise, treat with contempt') and the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah, representing the divine name Yahweh). The form בִּזְיוֹתְיָה likely indicates 'despising of Yah(weh)' or a place identified by an incident or reputation involving contempt toward Yahweh, though the specific reason for the name is otherwise unattested.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּזְיוֹתְיָה appears only in Joshua 15:28 as a location within the southern boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah. The meaning 'contempts of Yah(weh)' may reflect an incident, local reputation, or traditional etiology now lost to history. There is no indication that this location played a significant role in later biblical history; the name is not used elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. The lack of further attestation makes precise identification difficult, and later translations often obscure the theophoric and pejorative nuance. English versions sometimes transliterate the place name (e.g., KJV 'Bizjothjah') without translating its meaning. The use of the theophoric suffix suggests a possible monarchic or pre-exilic Judean origin for the name. No evidence supports use of later religious or ethnic terms for its population. Distinct from other similarly-formed toponyms, this name uniquely combines an unusually negative root with the divine name, which may indicate a polemical or etiological tradition now otherwise lost.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּזָה and יָהּ; contempts of Jah; Bizjothjah, a place in Palestine; Bizjothjah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בזה (b-z-h) — to despise, scorn, treat with contempt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5240 | נְמִבְזֶה | despised one |
| H939 | בּוּזָה | despised thing |
| H959 | בָּזָה | he despised |
| H960 | בָּזֹה | to a despised one |
| H963 | בִּזָּיוֹן | state of contempt |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H964-01 |
וּ/בִזְיוֹתְיָֽה | uvizeyoteyah | HC/Np |
and Biziothiah | Despisings-of-Yah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H964-01 |
Joshua 15:28 | וּ/בִזְיוֹתְיָֽה | uvizeyoteyah | HC/Np |
and Biziothiah | Despisings-of-Yah |