בׇּצְקַת
𐤁𐤑𐤒𐤕
Btseqat
H1218 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun denoting a specific town or settlement mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, likely referring to an elevated or swelling area of land; specifically, Botsqath, a town associated with the territory of Judah. The term carries a geographic nuance, emphasizing a raised tract of ground, which informs its naming as a locale.
Semantic Range
swelling or bulging (of the ground), elevated place, specific town in Judah named Botsqath
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בָּצַק (b-ts-q), meaning 'to swell' or 'to bulge.' The form בׇּצְקַת (Botsqath) is a feminine noun likely used as a toponym, indicating 'swelling' or 'elevation,' signifying the local geography.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Botsqath is mentioned in Joshua 15:39 among the town lists in the tribal allotment of Judah. Its meaning as 'swelling (of ground)' is drawn from its root, which is connected to physical swelling or bulging. This likely reflects a topographical feature—a mound, hill, or elevated ground—rather than a constructed site or settlement proper, though the term functions as a place name. The exact location remains uncertain, though it is thought to be in the southern Shephelah region near Lachish. The English Bibles often render the name as 'Bozcath,' but this does not convey the geographic nuance of the Hebrew. The term is only attested as the name of this locality and does not appear to carry later historical identity shifts, as the location did not play a significant role in post-exilic or later Judean history. There is no evidence that the inhabitants were distinguished in identity from other Judahites in the period the word is attested.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּצֵק; a swell of ground; Botscath, a place in Palestine; Bozcath, Boskath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בצק (b-ts-q) — to swell, to bulge, to rise
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1218-02 |
וּ/בָצְקַ֖ת | uvatseqat | HC/Np |
and Bozkath | Swelling-Height | 1 |
H1218-01 |
מִ/בָּצְקַֽת | mibatseqat | HR/Np |
of Bozkath | from Swelling-Height | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1218-02 |
Joshua 15:39 | וּ/בָצְקַ֖ת | uvatseqat | HC/Np |
and Bozkath | Swelling-Height |
H1218-01 |
2 Kings 22:1 | מִ/בָּצְקַֽת | mibatseqat | HR/Np |
of Bozkath | from Swelling-Height |