בִּתְרוֹן
𐤁𐤕𐤓𐤅𐤍
Biteron
H1338 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific geographical location east of the Jordan River, likely characterized by rugged or broken terrain, known as Bithron. Primarily used as a toponym, its meaning is connected to the idea of a rift or gorge, possibly referencing a cleft, ravine, or area with broken ground. Not used in reference to persons or abstract concepts.
Semantic Range
a gorge, cleft, ravine, broken or divided place (topographical); specific place east of the Jordan called Bithron (proper noun); always used as a toponym
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בָּתַר (batar), 'to cut, divide, split,' with the nominal form בִּתְרוֹן (Bithrôn) designating a place characterized by geological division or brokenness. The formation includes the definite article (ה), resulting in הַבִּתְרוֹן in context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּתְרוֹן is attested only in 2 Samuel 2:29, where it identifies the route of Abner and his men as they cross the Jordan and travel through 'the Bithron.' The use is strictly topographical, suggesting a landscape feature recognizable to early readers—likely a rugged valley or cleft east of the Jordan. The definite article implies a known specific location rather than a generic term. English translations uniformly render the term as a proper noun, but the Hebrew likely conveys a more geographic descriptor akin to 'the Cleft' or 'the Ravines.' There are no further references to this toponym in biblical or extrabiblical sources. The term's meaning is distinct from other geographical names formed from terrain features (e.g., גַּיְא 'valley'), as בִּתְרוֹן uniquely evokes imagery of a place broken or divided by geological forces, tying to the verbal root. In later tradition and translation, its function as a toponym rather than a descriptive term has been preserved.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּתַר; (with the article) the craggy spot; Bithron, a place East of the Jordan; Bithron.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בתר (b-t-r) — cut, divide, split
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1334 | בָּתַר | he cut in two |
| H1335 | בֶּתֶר | his severed pieces |
| H1336 | בֶּתֶר | cleft crags |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1338-01 |
הַ/בִּתְר֔וֹן | habiteron | HTd/Np |
the Bithron | the Split-Gorge | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1338-01 |
2 Samuel 2:29 | הַ/בִּתְר֔וֹן | habiteron | HTd/Np |
the Bithron | the Split-Gorge |