עַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה
𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤍 𐤃𐤁𐤋𐤕𐤉𐤌𐤄
Alemon Divelatayemah
H5963 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym designating a specific town or settlement in the territory of Moab, known as 'Almon toward Diblathaim' or 'Almon-Diblathaim.' The name likely identifies a location adjacent to or with a connection to another place called Diblathaim. Used in geographical lists, the term functions as a place-name rather than bearing a figurative or descriptive sense. Its inclusion of a directional marker may reflect territorial divisions or proximity in ancient Moabite geography.
Semantic Range
geographical name; settlement or encampment in Moab; compound toponym with directional element
Root / Etymology
Compound toponym from עַלְמוֹן (Almon), perhaps meaning 'hidden, concealment,' and דִּבְלָתָיִם (the dual form of a word related to 'Diblath,' possibly meaning 'two cakes/fig-cakes') with an enclitic directional suffix (ה) indicating 'toward' or 'place of.' The prefix and structure suggest a place called 'Almon toward Diblathaim' or 'Almon of Diblathaim.' Root of 'Almon' is עלם ('to conceal, be hidden'), while 'Diblathaim' derives from דבלה ('fig cake'), but the significance in this compound is topographical rather than descriptive.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears as a specific Moabite location in numbers listing wilderness encampments (Numbers 33:46-47). The compound nature of the name, joining two toponyms, reflects a regional naming convention where a smaller or subsidiary settlement is identified relative to a better-known location ('toward Diblathaim'). The Septuagint and later tradition sometimes treat the name as a single entity; however, the directional suffix ('-mah') indicates movement or placement with respect to Diblathaim. The site is only attested in Moabite territory, not within the land of the Israelites, and is distinct from similar-sounding locations in Judahite or Israelite territories. English translations sometimes render it as 'Almon-Diblathaim' or 'Almon toward Diblathaim,' but both underrepresent the directional nuance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as עַלְמוֹן and the dual of הֻיְּדָה (compare בֵּית דִּבְלָתַיִם) with enclitic of direction; Almon towards Diblathajim; Almon-Diblathajemah, a place in Moab; Almondilathaim.
Bantu Hebrew
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עלם, דבל (ʿ-l-m; d-b-l) — to conceal, hide, be hidden, be secret; fig cake, pressed cake
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5963-02 |
דִּבְלָתָֽיְמָ/ה | divelatayemah | HNp/Sd |
Diblathaim | Hidden-Place toward Double Fig-Cakes | 2 |
H5963-03 |
מֵ/עַלְמֹ֣ן | mealemon | HR/Np |
from Almon | from Almon-toward-Diblathaim | 1 |
H5963-01 |
בְּ/עַלְמֹ֥ן | bealemon | HR/Np |
at Almon | Almon-toward-Diblathaim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5963-01 |
Numbers 33:46 | בְּ/עַלְמֹ֥ן | bealemon | HR/Np |
at Almon | Almon-toward-Diblathaim |
H5963-02 |
Numbers 33:46 | דִּבְלָתָֽיְמָ/ה | divelatayemah | HNp/Sd |
Diblathaim | Hidden-Place toward Double Fig-Cakes |
H5963-03 |
Numbers 33:47 | מֵ/עַלְמֹ֣ן | mealemon | HR/Np |
from Almon | from Almon-toward-Diblathaim |
H5963-02 |
Numbers 33:47 | דִּבְלָתָ֑יְמָ/ה | divelatayemah | HNp/Sd |
Diblathaim | Hidden-Place toward Double Fig-Cakes |