דִּנְהָ֑בָה (din.ha.vah)
din.ha.vah
Dinhabah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Dinhabah is a proper noun found in only two biblical verses, Genesis 36:39 and 1 Chronicles 1:50. It serves as the name of a city associated with Bela, one of the early kings of Edom. The term appears exclusively within genealogical lists that trace the lineage and territorial holdings of Esau’s descendants.
The name translates to "give thou judgment" or "my judgment." This etymology suggests a place known for legal authority or perhaps a shrine where decisions were made. By anchoring this city to Bela, the text highlights the organized political structure of Edom even in its earliest recorded history.
Its brief appearance underscores the biblical interest in recording the nations surrounding Israel. While Dinhabah itself holds no narrative role, its inclusion confirms the historical reality of Edomite cities and their rulers during the patriarchal period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read through the genealogies in Scripture, it is easy to skim past names like Dinhabah and move on. Yet these records show us that God cares about the details of history, including the cities and leaders of nations surrounding Israel. The name itself means "give thou judgment," suggesting a place where authority and decisions were made.
This word reminds us that God’s sovereignty extends over all peoples, not just His chosen people. By recording the kings of Edom, the Bible affirms that every nation operates under God’s ultimate oversight. Even in lists of distant relatives or rival tribes, we see a God who knows and names every place and person.
For your faith, this is a comfort: no part of history is hidden from Him. The same God who recorded the name of a small Edomite city also knows your name and your story. You are never forgotten, and your life has meaning in His grand narrative.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] Dinhabah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דִּנְהָֽבָה\׃2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:32
Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.
This verse introduces Dinhabah as the city of Bela, establishing the historical context of Edomite leadership during the patriarchal era.
-
I Chronicles 1:43
Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
The chronicler repeats this name to confirm the continuity of Edom’s royal lineage before Israel had its own monarchy.