קַבְצְאֵל (qav.tse.el)
qav.tse.el
Kabzeel
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Kabzeel, meaning God gathers, identifies a specific location in the southern territory of Judah. It is described as the most remote city of that region, situated near the border with Edom. This geographic detail highlights its position on the frontier of ancient Israelite settlement.
In Scripture, this place appears only three times, primarily in lists of conquered cities or tribal boundaries within Joshua, II Samuel, and I Chronicles. Its rarity suggests it was a minor but distinct point on the map, marking the edge of Judah’s influence rather than a major urban center.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Kabzeel means 'God gathers.' It marks a remote city on the southern edge of Judah, near the border with Edom. In ancient times, this was not a bustling center but a frontier outpost. Its inclusion in biblical records reminds us that God’s presence and gathering work extend to the farthest reaches of our lives, even those places we might consider insignificant or distant.
While the city itself is minor, the men associated with it are remembered for their courage. Benaiah, a valiant man from Kabzeel, performed mighty deeds that demonstrate faithfulness in difficult circumstances. This connection shows how ordinary locations can become settings for extraordinary acts of loyalty and strength when anchored in God’s purpose.
For your daily walk, this word encourages you to see value in the 'edges' of your experience. Whether you feel on the margins or facing challenging boundaries, God gathers His people there just as surely as He does in the center. Your current position is not a place of abandonment but a specific point in His larger story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kabzeel2×
- from/ Kabzeel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַבְצְאֵ֥ל1×
- קַבְצְאֵ֑ל1×
- מִֽ/קַּבְצְאֵ֑ל1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:21
The farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
This verse establishes Kabzeel as a boundary marker, showing how God defined the limits of Judah's inheritance with precision.
-
II Samuel 23:20
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow.
Here the name identifies Benaiah’s origin, linking a remote town to one of David’s most trusted warriors who faced danger bravely.
-
I Chronicles 11:22
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
This parallel account reinforces the historical record of Benaiah’s valor, confirming that men from humble frontier towns could achieve great feats for God.