גֹּב
𐤂𐤁
Gov
H1359 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gôb — a place name, referring to a specific location mentioned in biblical narrative. The term denotes a locality, with its primary lexical sense being that of a geographical site rather than a common noun. There is no evidence the word denotes a 'pit' as a place feature in this specific case; rather, its use is as a proper name.
Semantic Range
proper name of a place (Gob); possible root sense in other forms: pit, cistern, excavation, den
Root / Etymology
Root/etymology uncertain. The term is possibly derived from the root גוב (to dig, pit), but the place name גֹּב is not clearly attested as meaning 'pit' in toponymic usage. The root גּוּב refers to a pit, cistern, or excavation, but it is unclear whether the name of the place bore this meaning to its ancient hearers.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical corpus, גֹּב (Gôb) appears as the site of significant battles between Israelite forces under King David and Philistine forces (2 Samuel 21:18-19). The name is preserved in historical lists and battle accounts, but further details about its location or attributes are unattested in the Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint (ancient Greek translation) varies in its handling of the name, sometimes omitting or transposing the account, suggesting that the exact location and meaning were already obscure by the Second Temple period. In Chronicles, the related event is relocated to Gezer, which may reflect a different textual tradition or confusion due to the similarity of regional toponyms. English Bible translations generally render גֹּב simply as a place name (Gob), but sometimes conflate or obscure it through harmonization with other sites. There is no evidence that the place name carried the meaning 'pit' to listeners or readers in its contexts, and the KJV rendering as a pit is not lexically justified here.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (fully) גּוֹב; from גּוּב; pit; Gob, a place in Palestine; Gob.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גוב (g-w-b) — to dig, to excavate, pit, cistern
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1356 | גֵּב | dug-out pits |
| H1357 | גֵּב | cutting locusts |
| H1461 | גּוּב | diggers |
| H1462 | גּוֹב | burrowing locust |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1359-01 |
בְּ/ג֖וֹב | begov | HR/Np |
at Gob | in Gob | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1359-01 |
2 Samuel 21:18 | בְּ/ג֖וֹב | begov | HR/Np |
at Gob | in Gob |
H1359-01 |
2 Samuel 21:19 | בְּ/ג֖וֹב | begov | HR/Np |
at Gob | in Gob |