יְבוּס
Jebus, the original name of Jerusalem
Definition
Jebus is the ancient name for the city that later became Jerusalem, specifically referring to the stronghold of the Jebusites before its conquest by King David. The name signifies a 'threshing place' or 'trodden down' location, reflecting its physical and perhaps political status prior to Israelite rule. In the biblical narrative, it is identified as the city captured by David, which he then established as his capital and renamed (1 Chronicles 11:4-5). The term is used exclusively for the pre-Israelite city and its inhabitants, the Jebusites.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Jebus' is used four times in the Old Testament, always as a proper noun referring to the city or its people. In Judges 19:10-11, it appears as a landmark, a city not inhabited by Israelites, which travelers avoid. Its primary usage is in 1 Chronicles 11:4-5, detailing David's conquest of the stronghold of Zion, which is explicitly called Jebus, and his subsequent renaming of it as the 'city of David,' Jerusalem. The usage marks a clear transition point from Canaanite to Israelite control.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root בּוּס (bûs, H947), meaning 'to tread down' or 'to trample.' This root is associated with threshing grain by treading, leading to the meaning 'threshing floor' or 'trodden place.' The name Jebus likely described the city's topography or function before David's conquest, possibly as an elevated, fortified site.
Semantic Range
The transition from 'Jebus' to 'Jerusalem' is theologically significant, representing God's faithfulness in fulfilling the land promise and establishing a central place for His worship. David's capture of the city (2 Samuel 5:6-10) fulfills earlier allotments (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21) and marks the beginning of Jerusalem's destiny as the political and spiritual capital of Israel, the future site of the Temple. Understanding this name change highlights God's sovereignty in transforming a pagan stronghold into the 'city of the great King' (Psalm 48:2).
In its original context, 'Jebus' identified a Canaanite city-state and its inhabitants, the Jebusites, who were among the peoples dispossessed by Israel under Joshua. The name reflects a pre-Israelite, pagan identity for the location. Its formidable reputation is seen in the Jebusites' boast that even the 'blind and the lame' could defend it against David (2 Samuel 5:6). The conquest symbolized the transfer of power and divine favor to the Davidic kingdom.
יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — The name Jerusalem, meaning 'foundation of peace,' which replaced Jebus after David's conquest. צִיּוֹן (Tsiyyôwn, H6726) — Zion, originally the specific fortress within Jebus that David captured, later becoming a poetic synonym for Jerusalem and God's dwelling place.
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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