אַלּוֹן בָּכוּת
Allon-Bakuth, a monumental tree
Definition
Allon-Bakuth is a proper noun meaning 'Oak of Weeping' or 'Terebinth of Weeping.' It refers to a specific, named tree (likely a large oak or terebinth) under which Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried after her death (Genesis 35:8). The name functions as a memorial marker, commemorating both the person and the act of mourning at that location. It is a single, unique geographical landmark in the biblical narrative, not a common noun for any tree.
Biblical Usage
This term is used only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 35:8. It is used strictly as a proper place name to identify the burial site of Deborah. The context is Jacob's return to Bethel, where he builds an altar, and this event of mourning and burial occurs, leading to the naming of the location.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'allon' (H437), meaning 'oak' or 'terebinth' (a large, sturdy tree), and a variation of 'bĕkîyth' (from H1068, 'bakah,' to weep), meaning 'weeping.' Thus, it literally translates to 'oak of weeping.' The name is descriptive of the event that occurred there.
Semantic Range
This term highlights the biblical practice of marking significant, often sorrowful, life events with physical memorials. It connects human grief and loss to sacred geography, showing how places become holy not only through divine revelation (like Bethel) but also through profound human experience. Understanding this name enriches reading by emphasizing the personal, memorial aspect of Israel's journey and the honoring of faithful individuals like Deborah within the larger covenant story.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, large trees like oaks or terebinths were often seen as notable landmarks, meeting places, or sacred sites. Naming a location after an event (here, weeping) was a common way to preserve community memory. The burial under a tree also reflects burial customs of the time, where prominent trees could serve as grave markers.
אֵלָה (ʼêlâh, H424) — A general term for terebinth or oak tree, but not a proper place name. אַלּוֹן (ʼallôwn, H437) — The specific word for 'oak' used in the compound itself, denoting the type of tree.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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