בֵּית מַעֲכָה

𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤌𐤏𐤊𐤄

Bêyth Maʻăkâh

H1038 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בית, מעכה to build, house, establish (for ב-י-ת); personal or clan name (for מעכה)

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

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Root 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