שִׂדִּים (sid.dim)
sid.dim
Valley
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew word siddim refers to a plain or valley, appearing only three times in the Old Testament. It is best known as the proper name for the Valley of Siddim, an area identified with the region of the Dead Sea. In Genesis 14, this location serves as the setting for a significant battle between coalition kings and the cities of the plain.
Its meaning aligns closely with terms for open, flat land suitable for agriculture or movement, though its biblical usage is strictly geographical. The sources note that it designates the specific field or valley where the bitumen pits were located, adding a tangible, physical dimension to the narrative of conflict and destruction in that chapter.
Because the term appears exclusively as a place name rather than a common noun in general discourse, its theological weight rests entirely on the events associated with it. The Valley of Siddim becomes a backdrop for judgment and deliverance, illustrating how specific landscapes function within the biblical story without carrying abstract symbolic meaning beyond their historical context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word siddim appears only three times in Scripture, always as part of the proper name for the Valley of Siddim, later identified with the Salt Sea or Dead Sea region. This is not a term used for everyday conversation but a specific geographical marker that anchors a dramatic historical event.
In Genesis 14, this valley serves as the stage where kings gathered for battle. The landscape itself played a role in the outcome, with tar pits affecting the fleeing armies. For readers today, it reminds us that God’s history unfolds in real places, involving real people and tangible circumstances.
While the word itself carries no abstract moral lesson, its context shows how physical settings intersect with divine purposes. The valley’s association with judgment and deliverance invites reflection on how God works through historical events to shape His people’s story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Siddim3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שִּׂדִּֽים\׃1×
- הַ/שִּׂדִּ֑ים1×
- הַ/שִׂדִּ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 14:3
All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
This verse establishes the location as a gathering point for kings, setting the stage for the conflict that follows.
-
Genesis 14:8
The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim
Here the word identifies the specific terrain where opposing armies prepared for battle, highlighting its strategic importance.
-
Genesis 14:10
Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills.
The valley’s physical features, specifically the tar pits, directly influenced the outcome of the battle by trapping fleeing soldiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word siddim mean?
Why is the Valley of Siddim important in the Bible?
Is siddim used as a common noun elsewhere?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Genesis 3 verses
All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
Genesis 14:8The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called…
Genesis 14:10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who…