דְּבִיר
Debir, the name of an Amoritish king and of two places in Palestine
Definition
Debir is a proper noun referring primarily to a major Canaanite city in the hill country of Judah, conquered by Joshua (Joshua 10:38-39). It was also known as Kiriath-sepher ('city of the book') and Kiriath-sannah (Joshua 15:15, 49). The name also refers to a king of Eglon, an Amorite ruler defeated by Joshua (Joshua 10:3). Additionally, it designates a place near the valley of Achor, on the northern border of Judah (Joshua 15:7).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the book of Joshua, appearing 12 times. It is used in two main contexts: as the name of the Amorite king of Eglon who joined the coalition against Gibeon (Joshua 10:3), and as the name of the prominent Canaanite city in Judah. The city's capture is narrated twice—first by Joshua (Joshua 10:38-39) and later by Othniel, who captured it for Caleb (Joshua 15:15-17). It is also listed among Joshua's conquests (Joshua 12:13) and in tribal boundary descriptions (Joshua 15:7, 15:49).
Etymology
The name דְּבִיר (Dᵉbîyr) is identical to the common noun דְּבִיר (H1687), meaning 'the back or inner part,' especially of the sanctuary or temple (the 'Holy of Holies'). It derives from the root ד־ב־ר (d-b-r), associated with 'speaking' but also 'leading' or 'directing.' As a place name, it likely carried a sense of 'oracle' or 'holy place,' possibly indicating the city was once a cultic center.
Semantic Range
The conquest of Debir symbolizes God's faithfulness in fulfilling the land promise to Israel. Its capture, first by Joshua and later by Othniel (Judges 1:11-15), highlights themes of divine victory, inheritance, and human agency through faithful warriors. The name's connection to the 'inner sanctuary' (דְּבִיר) may subtly point to God's presence being established in the conquered land, replacing Canaanite strongholds with places under His dominion.
As a major Canaanite city-state, Debir (Kiriath-sepher) was a fortified political and possibly scribal center ('city of the book'). Its conquest was a significant military achievement in the settlement period. The practice of awarding the conqueror the victor's daughter (Achsah to Othniel) reflects ancient Near Eastern customs of reward and inheritance (Joshua 15:16-17).
Kiriath-sepher (Qiryath Sepher, H7158) — An alternate name for Debir, meaning 'city of the book.' Kiriath-sannah (Qiryath Sannah, H7158) — Another variant name for the same city.
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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