בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה
𐤁𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤓𐤄
Beesheterah
H1203 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Bᵉ'eshtᵉrâh is a proper noun referring to a place east of the Jordan, allocated to the Gershonite Levites in the territory of Manasseh; its name likely references the Canaanite goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte), but as a toponym functions as the name of a Israelite Levitical city.
Semantic Range
proper noun for a place (Beeshterah); related to theophoric place names involving Ashtoreth/Astarte; possible meaning 'place associated with Ashtoreth' or 'in/at Ashtoreth'
Root / Etymology
The term appears to derive from the root עשתר (related to עַשְׁתָּרוֹת, 'Ashtaroth', the plural form of Ashtoreth/Astarte, a major Canaanite goddess), with the prefixed preposition בְּ- ('in', 'at', 'with') and a historically feminine ending. Thus, בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה literally means 'in/at Ashtaroth' or 'with Ashtaroth' but in practice denotes the place Beeshterah.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This name occurs in Joshua 21:27 as a Levitical city in the territory of Manasseh, on the eastern side of the Jordan. Ancient toponyms in the Levant often preserve the names of earlier deities (such as Ashtoreth/Astarte), reflecting the region's religious history prior to or during early Israelite settlement. בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה appears to be a form connected to the more common עַשְׁתָּרוֹת (Ashtaroth), though the singular form is rare. In most English translations, it appears as 'Beeshterah', but this does not fully convey its association with Ashtoreth, a detail evident to the ancient audience. The city is mentioned as distinct from Ashteroth, another Levitical city nearby, indicating a possible difference in local tradition or settlement history. Later Jewish and Christian translations often do not highlight the Canaanite religious association in the name, but the underlying etymological tie is significant for understanding the historical and cultural context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עַשְׁתְּרָה (as singular of עַשְׁתָּרוֹת) with a prepositional prefix; with Ashtoreth; Beeshterah, a place East of the Jordan; Beeshterah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עשתר (ʿ-š-t-r) — to attribute power, goddess (Astarte/Ashtoreth), fertility-deity association
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6252 | עַשְׁתָּרוֹת | Abundance-Goddesses |
| H6253 | עַשְׁתֹּרֶת | Ashtoreth, Abundance-Goddess |
| H6254 | עַשְׁתְּרָתִי | the Ashtarothite |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1203-01 |
בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָ֖ה | beesheterah | HNp |
Beeshterah | Ashtoreth-Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1203-01 |
Joshua 21:27 | בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָ֖ה | beesheterah | HNp |
Beeshterah | Ashtoreth-Place |