דַּבֶּשֶׁת

Dabbesheth, a place in Palestine

Definition

Dabbesheth is a proper noun referring to a specific location within the tribal territory of Zebulun, as recorded in the book of Joshua. It is listed as one of the border towns in the detailed description of Zebulun's inheritance (Joshua 19:11). The name itself means 'hump' or 'camel's hump,' likely describing the physical topography of the area, such as a prominent hill or ridge. As a place name, its significance is primarily geographical, serving to define the ancient tribal boundaries.

Biblical Usage

The word Dabbesheth is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 19:11. It appears in a list of towns and landmarks that delineated the borders of the tribe of Zebulun. Its usage is strictly geographical and administrative, part of the detailed land allotment records following the Israelite conquest of Canaan.

Etymology

Dabbesheth (דַּבֶּשֶׁת) is derived from the same root as the common noun דַּבֶּשֶׁת (dabbesheth, H1707), which means 'a hump' (of a camel). The place name is therefore a descriptive toponym, directly taken from the physical feature of the landscape it occupied. It shares this root with words describing rounded or protuberant shapes.

Semantic Range

In the ancient Near East, place names were often descriptive of local geography, flora, fauna, or historical events. Naming a town 'Hump' indicates a culture that used practical, observable landmarks for identification and navigation. This practice is evident throughout the biblical land allotments, where borders are defined by towns, rivers, and distinctive terrain features like mountains or ridges.

גִּבְעָה (givʿah, H1389) — A more general term for 'hill' or 'height,' not a specific proper name like Dabbesheth.

Word Details

Scripture References