Bible Word Study
גִּבְּתוֹן
Gibbᵉthôwn · Gibbethon, a place in Palestine
גִּבְּתוֹן
Gibbethon, a place in Palestine
Definition
Gibbethon is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine, identified as a Levitical city within the territory of the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:44, 21:23). It later became a strategically significant site during the divided monarchy, serving as a Philistine military garrison where major political upheavals occurred, including the assassinations of kings Nadab and Elah (1 Kings 15:27, 16:15, 17). The name itself means 'a hilly spot' or 'mound,' describing its geographical character.
Biblical Usage
Gibbethon is used exclusively as a geographical place name in the Old Testament. It appears in two distinct contexts: first, in the book of Joshua during the allotment of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel and the Levites (Joshua 19:44, 21:23). Second, it features prominently in the historical narratives of 1 Kings, where it is the setting for pivotal military campaigns and regicides during the reigns of the kings of Israel (1 Kings 15:27, 16:15, 16:17).
Etymology
The name Gibbethon (גִּבְּתוֹן) is derived from the Hebrew root גִּבְעָה (gibʿâ, H1389), meaning 'hill' or 'height.' It is an intensive or locative form of this root, signifying 'a hilly spot' or 'mound,' which aptly describes the topography of the location.
Semantic Range
Gibbethon serves as a geographical marker in the fulfillment of God's promise to allot cities to the Levites (Joshua 21). Its later role in 1 Kings highlights themes of political instability, judgment, and the consequences of Israel's disobedience, as key events there underscore the violent turmoil prophesied against the dynasties of Jeroboam and Baasha (1 Kings 14:10-11, 16:1-4). As a Levitical city, Gibbethon was a designated settlement for the priestly tribe, who received no territorial inheritance but were given cities scattered among the other tribes. Its capture by the Philistines and use as a military garrison (1 Kings 15:27) reflects the ongoing geopolitical struggle and shifting control of border regions between Israel and Philistia during the monarchy period. גִּבְעָה (gibʿâ, H1389) — The root word meaning 'hill,' whereas Gibbethon is a specific, derived place name. רָמָה (rāmâ, H7411) — Another common Hebrew word for 'height' or 'high place,' but not used as a proper name for this location.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]