גֶּ֫בַע (ge.va)
ge.va
Geba
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun geba simply means "hill." In the Old Testament, it functions primarily as a place name for a specific city in the territory of Benjamin. This settlement stood on a steep, terraced rise, situated about six miles northeast of Jerusalem and close to Gibeah, overlooking the wadi that separates it from ancient Michmash.
Its geographical position made it a strategic marker in biblical narratives. The sources note its frequent appearance in Judges and Samuel, often in contexts involving military movements or border disputes between Benjamin and other tribes. It also appears in Nehemiah as part of the list of towns repopulated after the exile, highlighting its enduring role as a Levitical city within the region.
Translators usually render geba as "Geba" rather than translating it literally as "hill," treating it as a proper noun. This distinguishes it from similar sounding words like gibeah, which also means hill but refers to different locations. The word’s consistent use as a place name anchors the reader in the physical landscape of ancient Israel, where topography often dictated history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Geba appears frequently in Scripture as a specific hilltop city in the territory of Benjamin. While it literally means "hill," the text treats it as a proper noun, anchoring readers in the physical landscape of ancient Israel. This geographical detail reminds us that God’s story unfolds in real places with real people, where topography often shaped history and strategy.
For your faith, this word highlights how ordinary locations become significant in God’s plan. Cities like Geba were not just strategic markers for military movements or border disputes; they were homes to families who served as Levitical cities and later returned from exile to rebuild their lives. The enduring presence of these towns shows God’s faithfulness across generations.
When you read about Geba in narratives of war or restoration, consider how God uses specific places to accomplish His purposes. Whether in times of conflict or renewal, the Bible assures us that God is present in the details of our lives and history. This perspective can bring comfort, knowing that every place and moment has meaning in His sovereign design.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Geba8×
- from/ Geba3×
- and/ Geba3×
- to/ Geba1×
- in/ Geba1×
- [were] from/ Geba1×
- [was] at/ Geba1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֶּ֖בַע4×
- מִ/גֶּ֖בַע2×
- וָ/גָ֔בַע2×
- מִ/גָּ֑בַע1×
- מִ/גֶּ֣בַע1×
- לְ/גֶ֣בַע1×
- וָ/גָ֑בַע1×
- גָּֽבַע\׃\ \ס1×
- גֶּ֥בַע1×
- גָֽבַע\׃1×
- גֶ֔בַע1×
- בְּ/גֶ֣בַע1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 13:16
Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
This verse places Saul and Jonathan in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines encamp nearby, illustrating the city’s strategic role during a critical military standoff.
-
Isaiah 10:29
They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
Isaiah uses Geba as a marker for an advancing enemy army, showing how the hill served as a symbolic point of dread and trembling in prophetic judgment.
-
Nehemiah 11:31
The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,
This passage lists Geba among the towns repopulated by Benjamin’s descendants after exile, highlighting its continued importance in the restored community of Israel.
-
II Kings 23:8
He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city.
King Josiah’s reform extends from Geba to Beersheba, demonstrating how this northern city marked the boundary of religious purification efforts in Judah.