Bible Word Study
יׇגְבְּהָה
Yogbᵉhâh · Jogbehah, a place East of the Jordan
יׇגְבְּהָה
Jogbehah, a place East of the Jordan
Definition
Jogbehah is a proper noun referring to a fortified city located east of the Jordan River, in the territory of Gad. It is mentioned in the context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of the Transjordan region. The city served as a strategic military outpost, as evidenced in Judges 8:11, where Gideon and his men pursued the Midianite kings past Jogbehah. Its location, while not precisely identified today, is understood to be in the region of Gilead, contributing to the territorial holdings of the tribe of Gad as recorded in Numbers 32:35.
Biblical Usage
The name Jogbehah appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a geographical location. In Numbers 32:35, it is listed among the cities rebuilt by the tribe of Gad after they received their inheritance east of the Jordan. In Judges 8:11, it serves as a geographical marker in the narrative of Gideon's pursuit of the fleeing Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, indicating a route through Gadite territory. Its usage is consistently as a place name with military or settlement connotations.
Etymology
The name Jogbehah (יָגְבְּהָה) is derived from the Hebrew root גָּבַהּ (gābah, H1361), meaning 'to be high, exalted, or lofty.' It is a feminine noun form, suggesting the meaning 'hillock' or 'lofty place.' This etymology fits the common practice of naming settlements based on their physical topography, implying Jogbehah was situated on elevated ground.
Semantic Range
While Jogbehah itself is not a central theological concept, its mention reinforces themes of God's faithfulness in granting the promised land, including territories east of the Jordan (Numbers 32). Its role in Judges 8 highlights how God used the established towns and geography of Israel to bring about victory through Gideon. Understanding its name ('lofty place') can subtly point to God's provision of secure, defensible positions for His people as they inhabited the land. As a fortified city in Gad, Jogbehah represented security, settlement, and tribal identity for the Israelites living east of the Jordan. In the ancient Near East, controlling fortified cities was crucial for defending borders and trade routes. Its mention in a military campaign (Judges 8:11) reflects the reality of constant threats from neighboring peoples like the Midianites and the importance of strongholds in the regional conflicts of the period. No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related are other Gadite cities like: Dibon (Dîḇôn, H1769) — another fortified city built by Gad. Ramoth (Rāmôṯ, H7216) — a city of refuge in Gilead, also east of the Jordan.
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]