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וָהֵב

𐤅𐤄𐤁

Vahev

H2052 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, possibly related to geographic naming

Definition

A proper noun designating a location, Vaheb, referenced as a place in Moab. The specific meaning beyond its use as a place name is uncertain, and it appears exclusively in a poetic or archaic context within the biblical text. The word functions to identify a geographic location rather than carry a dictionary-style lexical meaning.

Semantic Range

Vaheb (a specific place in Moab); obscure toponym; occasional speculative sense 'what he did' (now rejected)

Root / Etymology

Uncertain. The word וָהֵב (Vaheb) is not transparently derived from a known Hebrew root or Semitic cognate, and its morphological structure does not readily suggest a meaning. It is found only in connection with a Moabite locality, suggesting it may be a loanword or a place name of foreign origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The name Vaheb (וָהֵב) occurs uniquely in Numbers 21:14, within a poetic citation sometimes referred to as "The Book of the Wars of YHWH." Contextually, it may refer to a place or locality east of the Jordan River, in the territory associated with Moab. The precise location is not identified in other ancient sources, and the name does not appear elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, indicating it is an obscure geographical term. Some translations and commentators suggest alternate parsing of the brief poetic line, but the identification as a Moabite locality is the most widely accepted reading among modern lexicographers. Later translations may include speculative renderings or connect the name to uncertain phraseology, but there is no compelling evidence to assign it a meaning beyond a toponym. The rendering of Vaheb as "what he did" in some older sources reflects a grammatical misreading rather than actual Hebrew usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; Vaheb, a place in Moab; what he did.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; obscure toponym

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2052-01 וָהֵ֣ב vahev HNp Waheb Vaheb 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2052-01 Numbers 21:14 וָהֵ֣ב vahev HNp Waheb Vaheb
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