דַּבֶּ֫שֶׁת (dab.be.shet)
dab.be.shet
Dabbesheth
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun dabbešet literally means a hump, specifically that of a camel. In biblical Hebrew, this word describes a rounded elevation or mound, serving as a concrete geographical marker for a town situated on the border of the tribe of Zebulun.
Its sole occurrence in Scripture is found in Joshua 19:13, where it identifies one of the fortified cities allocated to that tribe. The term functions primarily as a proper place name, Dabbesheth, anchoring the narrative of Israel’s territorial distribution in physical reality. By using a word for a hump or mound, the text likely highlights the town’s location on a distinct hill or rise, distinguishing it from the surrounding lowlands.
This single reference underscores how ancient boundaries were often defined by natural landmarks. The choice of dabbešet reflects a practical naming convention, where prominent topographical features provided clear points of orientation for travelers and surveyors alike.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dabbešet appears only once in Scripture, identifying a specific town on the border of Zebulun. Its root meaning refers to a hump or mound, likely describing the physical hill where the settlement stood. This detail grounds the biblical narrative in real geography, showing that God’s promises were fulfilled in tangible places.
For your faith, this reminds us that spiritual truths are anchored in history. The precise listing of towns like Dabbesheth shows God’s care for details and His faithfulness to boundaries. You can trust that He knows the exact location of every promise, just as He knew the rise of that hill.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <on>/ Dabbesheth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/דַבָּ֑שֶׁת1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:11
Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
This verse marks the western boundary of Zebulun’s territory, using Dabbesheth as a specific landmark to define the tribe’s inheritance.