גְּדֵרֹתַיִם
𐤂𐤃𐤓𐤕𐤉𐤌
Gederotayim
H1453 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gederothayim: a place-name referring to a town in the territory allotted to the descendants of Judah, likely meaning 'double walls' or 'double enclosures.' The lexical meaning derives from urban, architectural, or boundary features—specifically referring to fortified structures or precincts, which may have characterized the town or inspired its name. In context, the term functions solely as a proper noun, used only for geographic designation in biblical lists.
Semantic Range
town or place-name characterized by two enclosures or double walls; toponym only; literal meaning 'double enclosure,' but no non-toponymic usage
Root / Etymology
From the feminine plural dual form of the noun גְּדֵרָה (gederah, 'wall, enclosure,' see root גדר), with the dual suffix -ַיִם (ayim), indicating 'two enclosures' or 'double wall.' Root: גדר, 'to wall in, fence, enclose.' Thus, גְּדֵרֹתַיִם most literally means 'place of two enclosures/walls.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
גְּדֵרֹתַיִם appears as a Judahite town in Joshua 15:36, listed among cities in the Judean Shephelah (lowlands). The name's dual form suggests the presence of two neighboring enclosures, or a village characterized by double fortifications or compounds, though the specific archaeological correlate is uncertain. The term occurs only as a toponym and should not be confused with the more general nouns גְּדֵרָה (enclosure/fold/wall) or גְּדֵרוֹת (enclosures). Standard English renderings transliterate the name (e.g., 'Gederothaim'), sometimes reflecting confusion with similar-sounding sites like גְּדֵרוֹת (Gederoth). Later Hellenistic or Roman period sources do not reference this site, reflecting an exclusively biblical context. The translation 'double wall' is literal and derived from the noun and suffix, but its use is only as a place-name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
dual of גְּדֵרָה; double wall; Gederothajim, a place in Palestine; Gederothaim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גדר (g-d-r) — to wall in, to fence, to enclose
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1013 | בֵּית־גָּדֵר | enclosing wall |
| H1443 | גָּדַר | he fenced in |
| H1444 | גֶּדֶר | enclosure-wall |
| H1445 | גֶּדֶר | Geder |
| H1446 | גְדֹר | Fortified Enclosure |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1453-01 |
וּ/גְדֵרֹתָ֑יִם | ugederotayim | HC/Np |
and Gederothaim | Double-Enclosure Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1453-01 |
Joshua 15:36 | וּ/גְדֵרֹתָ֑יִם | ugederotayim | HC/Np |
and Gederothaim | Double-Enclosure Place |