יְהֻד
Jehud, a place in Palestine
Definition
Jehud is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of the tribe of Dan, as recorded in the allotment of the Promised Land (Joshua 19:45). It is listed among the cities given to the Danites, though its precise location is uncertain. The name itself is a shortened form of 'Judah' or 'Judea,' meaning 'praised.' This single biblical occurrence marks it as a specific, minor geographical location within the broader narrative of Israel's settlement.
Biblical Usage
The word יְהֻד (Yᵉhud) is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 19:45. It appears in a straightforward list of cities allotted to the tribe of Dan. There is no narrative or descriptive context beyond its inclusion in this geographical inventory, indicating its primary function was to identify a specific place name within the tribal boundaries.
Etymology
The name יְהֻד (Yᵉhud) is a briefer or variant form of יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhudah, H3061), which means 'praised' or 'let him be praised.' It derives from the Hebrew root יָדָה (yadah, H3034), meaning 'to praise, give thanks.' This connects the place name Jehud to the much more significant tribal and later kingdom name Judah, sharing its core meaning of praise.
Semantic Range
While the place Jehud itself is not theologically significant, its name carries the weight of its root meaning 'praise,' linking it to the tribe of Judah and the messianic line (Genesis 49:8-12). Its mention in Joshua 19:45 underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise of land distribution to all the tribes, including Dan. Understanding its etymology reminds the reader that even minor locations in Scripture can point to greater themes of God's praise and provision.
As a town in the tribal allotment of Dan, Jehud represented a community established during the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan. Its name, a shortened form of 'Judah,' may reflect a cultural practice of naming settlements after larger, well-known regions or tribes, possibly indicating a connection or aspiration. For the original audience, it simply identified a known location within their national geography.
יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhudah, H3061) — The full, primary form meaning 'Judah,' referring to the tribe, territory, and later kingdom. יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhudiy, H3064) — An adjective meaning 'Jewish' or 'of Judah,' pertaining to the people.
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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