מַכְבֵּנָא

Macbena, a place in Palestine settled by him

Definition

Macbena (מַכְבֵּנָא) is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine. It is identified as a settlement or town established by Sheva, a descendant of Caleb, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 2:49. The name likely describes the geographical feature of the place, meaning 'knoll' or 'hillock.' As a proper name, it has no other major senses or meanings in the biblical text, appearing only in this genealogical context.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:49. It appears within a genealogical list detailing the descendants of Caleb, specifically naming the towns founded by his son Sheva. The usage is purely geographical and historical, serving to document the settlement activity of this clan within the territory of Judah. There are no patterns of usage across other books.

Etymology

The name Macbena derives from the same Hebrew root as H3522, כַּבּוֹן (kabbôn), which refers to something 'thick' or 'plump,' and by extension, a 'knoll' or a small, rounded hill. It is a place-name formed to describe the physical topography of the location. The ending '-āʼ' is a common Aramaic or later Hebrew formative for place names.

Semantic Range

In its original setting, this name functioned as a geographical identifier, anchoring a clan's history and territorial claims. Naming a settlement after a local landform (a knoll) was a common practice, making the place easy to locate and describe. For modern readers, it highlights the importance of land, ancestry, and settlement in Israel's tribal history, concepts deeply woven into the Old Testament narratives.

גִּבְעָה (givʿâh, H1389) — a more general term for 'hill' or 'height,' not a specific place-name like Macbena.

Word Details

Scripture References