בֵּית הָֽעֲרָבָה (bet ha.a.ra.vah)
bet ha.a.ra.vah
Beth-arabah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name bet ha‘arabah translates to "house of the depression" or "place of the desert valley." It identifies a specific location in ancient Israel, situated within the territory assigned to either the tribe of Judah or Benjamin. The term combines bet ("house") with ‘arabah, which refers to the arid lowlands or wadis that characterize this part of the landscape.
This place appears in only three verses, all found in the book of Joshua. It is listed among the towns and settlements during the division of the Promised Land among the tribes. Its brief mention serves as a geographical marker, helping to define the boundaries and inheritance of these southern tribes without further narrative detail or theological commentary attached to it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Beth-arabah means "house of the depression" or "place of the desert valley." It marks a specific spot in ancient Israel where the land slopes down into arid lowlands. This location appears only three times in Scripture, all within the book of Joshua. These brief mentions serve as geographical markers during the division of the Promised Land among the tribes.
While the text does not offer deep theological commentary on this place, its inclusion reminds us that God’s promises extend to every corner of the inheritance. Even remote or harsh landscapes were part of the allocation for Judah and Benjamin. This shows that no part of the land was overlooked in God’s careful provision.
For your faith, this detail highlights the precision of God’s word. He knows the boundaries of the earth and cares about the specific places His people inhabit. You can trust that He is present in both the high places and the low valleys of your own life, guiding you through every terrain with purpose and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Arabah2×
- of/ Beth1×
- and/ Beth1×
- Beth1×
- Arabah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/בֵ֣ית1×
- וּ/בֵ֧ית1×
- הָֽ/עֲרָבָ֛ה1×
- הָעֲרָבָ֔ה1×
- הָ/עֲרָבָ֑ה1×
- בֵּ֚ית1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:6
The border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
This verse situates Beth-arabah along the northern boundary of Judah’s territory, marking a transition point near the stone of Bohan.
-
Joshua 15:61
In the wilderness, Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
Here it is listed among wilderness towns in Judah’s mountainous region, showing its role as a settlement in a harsh environment.
-
Joshua 18:22
Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
This occurrence places Beth-arabah within Benjamin’s inheritance, linking it geographically to other key sites like Zemaraim and Bethel.