אַזְנוֹת תָּבוֹר
Aznoth-Tabor, a place in Palestine
Definition
Aznoth-Tabor is a place name in ancient Israel, meaning 'the ears (or peaks) of Tabor.' It refers to a location on or near Mount Tabor, likely describing its slopes or projecting ridges. The name appears only in Joshua 19:34, where it serves as a boundary marker for the territory of the tribe of Naphtali, delineating its southern border. As a geographical feature, it helped define the tribal allotment following the Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 19:34. It functions solely as a geographical boundary description within the context of land allocation to the tribes of Israel. The usage is administrative and territorial, marking the southern limit of Naphtali's inheritance, running from Heleph to the Jordan River, with Aznoth-Tabor as a key point.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'Aznoth' (אַזְנוֹת), the plural construct form of 'ozen' (אֹזֶן, H241), meaning 'ear,' but here used topographically for 'projections' or 'peaks' (like the lobes of an ear). It is combined with 'Tabor' (תָּבוֹר, H8396), referring to Mount Tabor. Thus, the name literally means 'peaks of Tabor,' describing the mountain's distinctive ridges.
Semantic Range
While Aznoth-Tabor itself is not theologically significant, its mention underscores the theme of God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise of land to the tribes of Israel. The precise boundary descriptions in Joshua, including this location, highlight the orderly and specific nature of God's allotment, emphasizing that the conquest and settlement were divinely orchestrated. Understanding such place names enriches reading by grounding biblical narratives in real geography.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, place names often derived from observable physical features. 'Ears' or 'peaks' as a descriptor for mountain ridges was a vivid, anthropomorphic way to describe the landscape. Boundary markers like Aznoth-Tabor were crucial in a society where land inheritance defined tribal identity, economics, and social structure, making its precise location important for legal and communal purposes.
Tabor (תָּבוֹר, H8396) — The mountain itself, whereas Aznoth-Tabor specifies a part of it. Har (הַר, H2022) — A general term for 'mountain' or 'hill,' not a proper name. Gib'ah (גִּבְעָה, H1389) — A term for 'hill,' but not specifically a peak or projection.
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.
Full methodology & sources →