טְבַלְיָהוּ
Tebaljah, an Israelite
Definition
Tebaliah is a proper name belonging to an Israelite gatekeeper in the temple during the reign of King David. The name appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 26:11, where he is listed as the fourth son of Hosah, a Merarite Levite. As a proper noun, it refers solely to this individual, and there are no other biblical senses or meanings associated with the term. His role, like that of his brothers, was assigned by lot for service at the temple gates.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 26:11. It functions solely as a personal name within a genealogical list of Levitical gatekeepers. The context is administrative, detailing the organization of temple personnel by King David. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single, specific reference.
Etymology
The name Tebaliah (טְבַלְיָהוּ) is a compound Hebrew name derived from the root טָבַל (ṭāḇal, H2881), meaning 'to dip' or 'to immerse,' and the divine name יָהּ (Yāh, H3050), a shortened form of Yahweh. Thus, the name means 'Yahweh has dipped' or 'Yahweh has immersed.' It is a theophoric name, common in Israelite culture, expressing a relationship or action attributed to God.
Semantic Range
While the individual Tebaliah is not a major biblical figure, his name carries theological significance as a theophoric name, affirming Yahweh's active role. The verb 'to dip' can have ceremonial connotations (e.g., ritual purification), potentially suggesting a name given in hope of or gratitude for God's cleansing or consecrating action. His inclusion in the Levitical genealogy underscores the biblical theme of orderly worship and the value of every individual's assigned service in God's house (1 Chronicles 26:12-13).
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful statements. A name like Tebaliah, which incorporates the divine name Yah, reflects a family's faith and public identification with Yahweh. As a Levitical gatekeeper, Tebaliah held a position of responsibility in protecting the sanctity of the temple precincts, a role vital to Israel's worship system but quite different from modern religious roles.
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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