מִבְדָּלָה (miv.da.lah)
miv.da.lah
separate place
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun mivdalāh refers to a distinct or separate place, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Joshua 16:9. In this specific context, it describes a town that stood apart from the main cluster of cities allocated to the tribe of Ephraim.
Its meaning derives from the root b-d-l, which conveys separation or distinction. The word highlights geographical isolation rather than ritual purity, marking a location that was set off from its neighbors by space or boundary.
Translators typically render it as "separate place" or "detached town." This usage underscores the precise nature of the land distribution records in Joshua, where even isolated settlements were accounted for within the tribal inheritance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mivdalāh appears only once in Scripture, in Joshua 16:9. It describes a town that stood apart from the main cluster of cities given to Ephraim. This detail shows how carefully the land was divided. Even isolated settlements were named and included in the inheritance.
This precision reminds us that God cares about every part of His plan. No location is too small or too far to be overlooked. The record includes these separate places because they belonged to the people just as much as the larger towns.
When you read this, think about how God notices the details in your own life. He knows where you are and what your situation looks like. His care extends to every corner of your world, including the places that feel distant or alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ separate places1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מִּבְדָּלוֹת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 16:9
together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
This verse uses mivdalāh to identify a specific town set apart from the main Ephraimite cities, showing that even isolated settlements were formally included in the tribal inheritance.