דִּנְהָבָה
Dinhabah, an Edomitish town
Definition
Dinhabah is a proper noun referring to a town in Edom, the region southeast of Judah. It is mentioned specifically as the city from which Bela son of Beor, an early Edomite king, reigned (Genesis 36:32, 1 Chronicles 1:43). The name appears only in these two parallel genealogical lists, which trace the line of Edomite rulers before any king reigned over Israel. As a place name, its significance lies solely in its identification as a royal seat within the Edomite kingdom.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Dinhabah' is used exclusively in two parallel passages: Genesis 36:32 and 1 Chronicles 1:43. Both contexts are genealogical, listing the kings who ruled in Edom. Its usage is strictly as a geographical identifier—the city associated with King Bela. There is no narrative or descriptive usage beyond this simple identification in these king lists.
Etymology
The etymology of Dinhabah (דִּנְהָבָה) is uncertain. Scholars have proposed possible connections to roots meaning 'to give' or 'to murmur,' but no consensus exists. It is likely a pre-Hebrew, Edomite place name absorbed into the biblical text, and its original meaning in the local language is lost.
Semantic Range
As an Edomite town, Dinhabah represents the established, pre-monarchical kingdoms of Israel's neighbors and rivals. Its mention in the Genesis and Chronicles king lists underscores that complex political structures existed in the region long before the Israelite monarchy under Saul and David. For the original audience, it grounded Edom's history in a specific, known geography, affirming the reality of this rival nation's lineage.
Edom (אֱדוֹם, H123) — the region or nation, not a specific town. Sela (סֶלַע, H5554) — another major Edomite city/stronghold, often identified with Petra.
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 →