מוֹלָדָה
Moladah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Moladah is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of Judah, located in the Negev region of southern Palestine. It is listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah in Joshua 15:26 and later reassigned to the tribe of Simeon in Joshua 19:2. The town is also mentioned in post-exilic contexts, appearing in the list of returning exiles in Nehemiah 11:26 and in the Simeonite genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4:28. These references consistently treat Moladah as a geographical location, with no significant shift in meaning across the biblical texts.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Moladah' is used exclusively as a place name in the Old Testament. It appears in geographical lists within the historical books, specifically in the context of tribal land allotments (Joshua 15:26, 19:2) and in post-exilic records of resettlement (1 Chronicles 4:28, Nehemiah 11:26). There is no narrative or descriptive usage beyond its identification as a town, indicating its primary function was for territorial designation.
Etymology
The name Moladah (מוֹלָדָה) is derived from the Hebrew root יָלַד (yālad, H3205), meaning 'to bear,' 'to bring forth,' or 'to beget.' As a feminine noun, it relates to concepts of birth, origin, or genealogy. The name likely signifies 'birthplace' or 'place of origin,' which may reflect its founding or its role as a settlement for a clan or family group.
Semantic Range
As a town in the Negev, Moladah was part of the arid southern frontier of Judah, an area often vulnerable and sparsely populated. Its mention in tribal allotments (Joshua) and post-exilic resettlement lists (Nehemiah) highlights its role in Israel's territorial identity and the continuity of community life after the Babylonian exile. The name's connection to 'birth' may culturally signify its establishment or renewal as a settlement for returning families.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to other town names derived from roots about origin, such as Bethlehem (בֵּית לֶחֶם, H1035) — 'house of bread' or Tekoa (תְּקוֹעַ, H8620) — a place name possibly meaning 'trumpet blast' or 'settlement.'
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 →