גִּתַּיִם
Gittajim, a place in Palestine
Definition
Gittayim is a proper noun referring to a town in ancient Palestine, likely located in the territory of Benjamin. The name means 'double winepress,' suggesting it was a place associated with wine production. It appears in the Bible as a settlement where the Beerothites fled after the death of Saul (2 Samuel 4:3) and later as a town inhabited by the tribe of Benjamin after the exile (Nehemiah 11:33). There are no major differing senses; it consistently denotes this specific geographical location.
Biblical Usage
Gittayim is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a place name. In 2 Samuel 4:3, it is mentioned as the refuge for the Beerothites, connecting it to the turbulent political transition after Saul's death. In Nehemiah 11:33, it appears in a list of towns repopulated by the tribe of Benjamin after the return from Babylonian exile, indicating its continued existence and significance in the post-exilic period.
Etymology
The word Gittayim is the dual form of the Hebrew noun גַּת (Gath, H1660), meaning 'winepress.' The dual ending (-ayim) typically indicates a pair or a double of something, hence the meaning 'double winepress.' This suggests the location may have featured two winepresses or was known for an abundance of wine production. It is related to other place names containing 'Gath,' such as Gath of the Philistines.
Semantic Range
As a place name meaning 'double winepress,' Gittayim reflects the agricultural and economic life of ancient Israel, where wine production was vital. Winepresses were cut into rock to crush grapes, and a 'double' press might indicate a site of significant output. This name grounds the location in the tangible, everyday work of the people, contrasting with its brief biblical mentions in narratives of flight and restoration.
גַּת (Gath, H1660) — A more common term for 'winepress' or a Philistine city name, whereas Gittayim is a specific dual-form place name.
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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