בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד (bet e.qed)
bet e.qed
Beth-eked
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Beth-eked is a proper noun appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in 2 Kings 10:12. The name translates to "house of binding," though scholars often interpret it more specifically as a "shearing house" or a place where flocks were gathered and secured.
Its occurrence is tied to Jehonadab’s journey to Samaria to meet Jehu, the king who was purging the northern kingdom of Baal worship. The location likely served as a practical station for shepherds or travelers in that region. Because the text provides no further details about its geography or significance beyond this brief mention, it remains a minor but specific marker in the narrative of political and religious upheaval.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Beth-eked means "house of binding." In the ancient world, this was a practical place where flocks were gathered and secured. It represents a moment of pause in a journey, a spot where movement stops so that something can be held fast.
In 2 Kings 10, Jehu passes through this shearing house on his way to Samaria. The text uses this location as a marker for a time of intense judgment and decisive action. For us, it reminds us that God’s work often happens in the ordinary places of our daily lives. Even when we are traveling or busy with tasks, we are part of a larger story.
This word invites us to consider where we stop and bind ourselves to God’s purposes. It is not just about geography but about commitment. When we pause to seek His will, we find that He is present in the details of our path, guiding us through both peace and upheaval with steady care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was at] Beth1×
- Eked of1×
- Eked1×
- Beth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּֽית\־2×
- עֵ֥קֶד1×
- עֵ֗קֶד1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 10:12
He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,
This verse places Jehu at the shearing house as he travels to Samaria, marking a critical pause in his mission to purge Baal worship.
-
II Kings 10:14
He said, “Take them alive!” They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn’t leave any of them.
The narrative returns to this location for the execution of forty-two men, showing how the 'house of binding' becomes a site of decisive judgment.