עֶבְרֹן
Ebron, a place in Palestine
Definition
עֶבְרֹן (Ebron) is a proper noun referring to a location in the ancient territory of Asher, mentioned only in Joshua 19:28. The verse lists it among the towns allotted to the tribe of Asher, describing it as part of the region extending 'to Ebron.' Its exact geographical location remains uncertain, leading some scholars to suggest it might be a variant or scribal error for the more prominent city of Hebron (H2275) or the town of Abdon (H5658). Given its single biblical occurrence, it is understood primarily as a specific, though obscure, place name within the Promised Land.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Joshua 19:28, within a list of territorial boundaries for the tribe of Asher. Its usage is purely geographical, serving to define the extent of the tribal inheritance. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
The name עֶבְרֹן (ʻEbrôn) is likely derived from the root עָבַר (ʻābar, H5676), meaning 'to cross over' or 'pass through.' This root gives rise to the idea of a 'transitional' place or a 'ford.' It is related to the name of the patriarch Eber (עֵבֶר) and the region 'beyond' (עֵבֶר) the Jordan. The connection suggests Ebron may have been understood as a crossing point or a border area.
Semantic Range
As a place name in a tribal boundary list, Ebron reflects the Israelite practice of meticulously documenting land allotments as a fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham. Its inclusion, even as a minor location, underscores the importance of every part of the Promised Land being assigned by divine lot (Joshua 18:6-10). The uncertainty of its location today highlights the geographical knowledge assumed of the original audience.
חֶבְרוֹן (Chevrôn, H2275) — The major city of Hebron, a key patriarchal burial site and later a Levitical city. עַבְדּוֹן (ʻAbdôn, H5658) — A Levitical city in Asher, which some scholars propose as the correct reading for Ebron in Joshua 19:28.
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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