בֵּית מַעֲכָה
𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤌𐤏𐤊𐤄
Bêyth Maʻăkâh
H1038 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating a specific settlement in the northern Levant, meaning 'house (or settlement) of Maakah.' Likely denoted a town either founded by or associated with an individual or clan named Maakah. The phrase functions as a toponym, typical of biblical place-naming conventions linking settlements to prominent ancestors, founders, or patron figures.
Semantic Range
house of Maakah (a town or settlement), settlement named after/associated with Maakah, regional stronghold, northern frontier town
Root / Etymology
Compound from בַּיִת (bayit, 'house' or 'settlement') and מַעֲכָה (Maʻăkâh, a personal name). The root of בַּיִת is ב-י-ת (to build, house); מַעֲכָה is of uncertain etymology, most likely a theophoric or clan name. The construct state בֵּית ('house of') plus a genitive personal name forms a standard biblical Hebrew place name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בֵּית מַעֲכָה (Beth Maakah) most prominently appears as a fortified town in the northern reaches of the Israelite territories (see 2 Samuel 20:14–15), neighboring the region of Aram and near Dan and Abel Beth Maakah. Its mention often marks a northern frontier zone, reflecting interactions with Aramean or other non-Israelite groups. The 'house' element references not a dwelling but a settlement named for, or associated with, Maakah—possibly a local founder, leader, or a patron deity. English translations usually render this as 'Beth-maachah' or 'Beth Maacah' without conveying that it is a standard Semitic place-naming formula (house of X). The inhabitants are not identified as a distinct ethnic group, but the proximity to Aram suggests potential multi-ethnic or borderland status in the period. Use of the term is limited to geographic or military narratives, without cultic or theological connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּיִת and מַעֲכָה; house of Maakah; Beth-Maakah, a place in Palestine; Beth-maachah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בנה (b-n-h) — to build, construct, establish, found a family
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1004 | בַּיִת | in the houses |
| H1005 | בַּיִת | the built-house |
| H1006 | בַּיִת | the house |
| H1007 | בֵּית אָוֶן | house-of |
| H1008 | בֵּית־אֵל | in house of |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1038-01 |
בֵּ֣ית | beyt | HNp |
of Beth | house of | 1 |
H1038-02 |
הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה | hamaakhah | HNp |
Maacah | the House of Maakah | 1 |
H1038-04 |
וּ/בֵ֥ית | uveyt | HC/Np |
and to Beth | and house-of | 1 |
H1038-03 |
מַעֲכָ֖ה | maakhah | HNp |
Maacah | House of Maakah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1038-04 |
2 Samuel 20:14 | וּ/בֵ֥ית | uveyt | HC/Np |
and to Beth | and house-of |
H1038-03 |
2 Samuel 20:14 | מַעֲכָ֖ה | maakhah | HNp |
Maacah | House of Maakah |
H1038-01 |
2 Samuel 20:15 | בֵּ֣ית | beyt | HNp |
of Beth | house of |
H1038-02 |
2 Samuel 20:15 | הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה | hamaakhah | HNp |
Maacah | the House of Maakah |