דִּיבוֹן
𐤃𐤉𐤁𐤅𐤍
Divon
H1769 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dibon: a proper noun designating the name of multiple places in biblical geography—primarily two distinct Transjordanian towns, one associated with the tribal territory of Reuben and another as a settlement belonging to the Moabites. The name itself does not describe the characteristics or functions of these places and is primarily used as a location identifier. In some contexts, the name appears in extended forms (e.g., Dibon-gad), but the core lexical meaning is that of a place name rather than a common noun.
Semantic Range
(proper noun) the name of a Transjordanian town in Reubenite and Moabite territory; (in compound) Dibon-gad refers to a town associated with the tribe of Gad; does not occur as a common noun
Root / Etymology
From the root דּוּב (possibly related to 'to pine, languish' or 'to move gently'), though the precise connection between the root and place name is unclear. It is likely that דִּיבוֹן is a toponym formed from the root, but its semantic significance as a place name is lost or obscure; etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Dibon is most commonly mentioned as a Transjordanian settlement assigned to the tribe of Reuben after the conquest of the land east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:3, 34; Joshua 13:9, 17). It is also listed as a Moabite town, particularly prominent in prophetic oracles against Moab (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18, 22), reflecting shifting political boundaries and territorial control over centuries. Archaeologically, the site identified as Dibon is modern Dhiban in Jordan. The form דִּיבֹן-gad (Dibon-gad) suggests a later extension of the name, perhaps indicating a settlement related to the tribe of Gad. Unlike many toponyms, the meaning of 'Dibon' is not clear from the biblical manuscripts, and ancient Jewish and Christian translations do not reflect additional significance beyond its usage as a place name. Standard English Bibles typically use 'Dibon' as a transliteration rather than an attempted translation. Related terms, such as 'Dibon-gad,' differentiate sub-settlements or chronologically distinct occupations of the site. Later rabbinic, Septuagintal, or Vulgate texts do not significantly expand the semantic range of the term. The English term 'Palestine' is anachronistic for the period of these texts: Dibon was a town in the region east of the Jordan River, known in Iron Age and Persian periods as part of Moab or Israelite tribal territories.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) דִּיבֹן; from דּוּב; pining; Dibon, the name of three places in Palestine; Dibon. (Also, with גָּד added, Dibon-gad.)
Bantu Hebrew
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דוב (d-w-b) — to move gently, to languish, to pine
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1727 | דּוּב | and causing-to-languish ones |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1769-02 |
דִּיב֑וֹן | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon | 6 |
H1769-05 |
וְ/דִיבֹן֙ | vedivon | HC/Np |
and Dibon | and Dibon | 2 |
H1769-03 |
מִ/דִּיבֹ֣ן | midivon | HR/Np |
from Dibon | from Dibon | 1 |
H1769-04 |
וּ/בְ/דִיבֹן֙ | uvedivon | HC/R/Np |
and in Dibon | and in Dibon | 1 |
H1769-01 |
בְּ/דִיבֹ֥ן | bedivon | HR/Np |
at Dibon | in Dibon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1769-02 |
Numbers 21:30 | דִּיב֑וֹן | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon |
H1769-05 |
Numbers 32:3 | וְ/דִיבֹן֙ | vedivon | HC/Np |
and Dibon | and Dibon |
H1769-02 |
Numbers 32:34 | דִּיבֹ֖ן | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon |
H1769-01 |
Numbers 33:45 | בְּ/דִיבֹ֥ן | bedivon | HR/Np |
at Dibon | in Dibon |
H1769-03 |
Numbers 33:46 | מִ/דִּיבֹ֣ן | midivon | HR/Np |
from Dibon | from Dibon |
H1769-02 |
Joshua 13:9 | דִּיבֽוֹן | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon |
H1769-02 |
Joshua 13:17 | דִּיבוֹן֙ | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon |
H1769-05 |
Isaiah 15:2 | וְ/דִיבֹ֛ן | vedivon | HC/Np |
and Dibon | and Dibon |
H1769-02 |
Jeremiah 48:18 | דִּיב֑וֹן | divon | HNp |
of Dibon | Dibon |
H1769-02 |
Jeremiah 48:22 | דִּיב֣וֹן | divon | HNp |
Dibon | Dibon |