קְדֵמוֹת (qe.de.mot)
qe.de.mot
Kedemoth
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun qe.de.mot, rendered Kedemoth, identifies a specific town in the territory east of the Dead Sea. The name itself carries the meaning "eastern," likely describing its location relative to other settlements or perhaps its orientation. This place is listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Reuben during the division of the Promised Land.
Scripture mentions Kedemoth in only three verses, primarily within Joshua and Deuteronomy. These passages record its assignment to the Merarite Levites, a subgroup responsible for transporting the tabernacle’s furnishings. The brief references serve as geographical markers, anchoring the tribal inheritance in a concrete location on the eastern side of the Jordan valley.
Its appearance is limited to these historical records of land distribution. The word does not carry theological weight beyond its function as a place name, yet it highlights the specific care taken in allocating territory to the priestly families. Kedemoth remains a small but distinct point on the map of ancient Israel’s tribal boundaries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Kedemoth is a place name meaning "eastern," marking a specific town in the territory east of the Dead Sea. It appears in only three verses, serving as a geographical marker during the division of the Promised Land. This small location highlights the care taken to allocate territory to the tribe of Reuben and the Merarite Levites.
For your faith, Kedemoth reminds us that God’s promises are grounded in reality. He did not leave His people without clear boundaries or provisions. The specific naming of towns like Kedemoth shows that God cares about the details of our lives, anchoring history in concrete places. This attention to detail offers comfort, knowing that the same God who mapped ancient lands is present in every season of your journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kedemoth2×
- and/ Kedemoth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קְדֵמוֹת֙1×
- קְדֵמ֔וֹת1×
- וּ/קְדֵמֹ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 2:26
I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
This verse shows Kedemoth as a starting point for diplomatic outreach, highlighting its strategic role in Israel's early history.
-
Joshua 13:18
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Here Kedemoth is listed among the cities given to Reuben, illustrating the fulfillment of God's promise to provide inheritance.
-
Joshua 21:37
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.
This occurrence assigns Kedemoth to the Levites, demonstrating God's provision for those dedicated to serving in the tabernacle.