גְּבָל
Gebal, a region in Idumaea
Definition
Gebal (גְּבָל) is a proper noun referring to a geographical region. In its sole biblical occurrence, it denotes a territory associated with the Edomites (Idumaeans) in Psalm 83:7. This Gebal is distinct from the more famous Phoenician city-state of the same name (modern Byblos) referenced in other ancient texts, which is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The term simply identifies a specific people group and their land within the context of a confederation of nations hostile to Israel.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 83:7. It appears in a list of nations and peoples—including Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagrites, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria—that have conspired against God's people. The usage is purely geographical and ethnic, identifying Gebal as part of a coalition opposing Israel.
Etymology
The name גְּבָל (Gᵉbâl) is identical to the common noun גְּבַל (gᵉḇal, H1380), meaning 'border' or 'boundary.' It likely functioned as a place name describing a border region or territory. It is cognate with the Phoenician city known as Gebal (Greek Byblos), though the biblical reference is to a different location in Edomite territory.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple place name, its theological significance emerges from its context in Psalm 83. Here, Gebal represents one of the many historical enemies surrounding Israel, symbolizing the persistent opposition faced by God's people. The psalm's plea for God to judge these nations (Psalm 83:13-18) underscores themes of divine protection, justice, and the ultimate sovereignty of Yahweh over all nations, even those on the perceived 'borders' of Israel's world.
In the ancient Near East, place names often derived from geographical features or tribal associations. The Gebal of Psalm 83 was understood as a region in Idumaea (Edom), south of Judah. Its inclusion in a list with powerful entities like Assyria and Tyre suggests it was a recognizable, though likely minor, political entity or tribe within the Edomite sphere, part of the complex web of tribal alliances and conflicts in the region.
Edom (אֱדוֹם, H123) — The larger nation/region with which Gebal is associated. Seir (שֵׂעִיר, H8165) — Another name for the mountainous territory of Edom.
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 →