בֵּית תַּפּוּחַ
𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤕𐤐𐤅𐤇
Bêyth Tappûwach
H1054 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym meaning 'House of the Apple(-tree),' designating an ancient site in the Shephelah region of the territory given to the tribe of Judah. The name literally denotes a place associated with apple or, more broadly, fruit trees, though not necessarily the modern apple; it could refer to any fragrant fruit tree (often thought to be the apricot or quince in ancient Israelite context).
Semantic Range
place-name, settlement designation, 'house of (the) apple (tree),' specific town in Judahite territory
Root / Etymology
Compound noun from בַּיִת (bayit, 'house') and תַּפּוּחַ (tappuach, 'apple' or 'apple-tree,' possibly referring generally to a fragrant fruit tree). The phrase denotes 'House of the Apple (tree).'
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֵּית תַּפּוּחַ appears in Joshua 12:17; 15:53 as a town allotted to the tribe of Judah, likely in the lowlands west of Hebron. Its designation reflects a common Israelite toponymic pattern (בית + flora/feature) denoting place-characteristics or local natural resources. The term תַּפּוּחַ in ancient texts may not correspond to the modern apple (Malus domestica), but rather to a local fruit-bearing tree, such as the apricot (Prunus armeniaca) or possibly the quince (Cydonia oblonga), valued for its fragrance and symbolic associations. The site's precise location remains uncertain, though it is generally identified near modern Taffuh. English translations typically preserve the transliterated toponym (Beth-tappuah) due to uncertainty about the precise fruit or referent. No later religious or ethnic meanings are attached to the name; its usage is geographic and descriptive, not referring to people or identities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּיִת and תַּפּוּחַ; house of (the) apple; Beth-Tappuach, a place in Palestine; Beth-tappuah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בית, תפח (b-y-t; t-p-ḥ) — house, dwelling, container; apple, fragrant fruit, swelling/distending
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1054-02 |
וּ/בֵית | uveyt | HC/Np |
and Beth | and house of | 1 |
H1054-01 |
תַּפּ֖וּחַ | tapucha | HNp |
tappuah | House of the Apple-tree | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1054-02 |
Joshua 15:53 | וּ/בֵית | uveyt | HC/Np |
and Beth | and house of |
H1054-01 |
Joshua 15:53 | תַּפּ֖וּחַ | tapucha | HNp |
tappuah | House of the Apple-tree |