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זְבוּלוּן

𐤆𐤁𐤅𐤋𐤅𐤍

Zevulun

H2074 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זבל to dwell, to exalt, to honor

Definition

A personal name referring to the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, Zebulun; by extension, the eponymous ancestor of the Israelite tribe bearing his name, and further denoting the tribal territory allotted to his descendants in northern Canaan. The name carries connotations of 'dwelling' or 'exalted dwelling,' though the precise nuance is debated. In various contexts, the term denotes: (1) the individual Zebulun; (2) the tribe of Zebulun among the Israelite confederation; (3) the territory associated with the tribal allotment; (4) collectively, the people of that region.

Semantic Range

name of an individual (Zebulun), name of an Israelite tribe, designation of a tribal territory, collective designation for the tribe or its inhabitants

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root זבל (z-b-l), whose basic meaning is 'to dwell, to exalt, to honor.' The name זְבוּלוּן may mean 'dwelling' or 'exalted dwelling,' but may also be a theophoric name or contain an archaic root meaning. Variants in vocalization occur (זְבֻלוּן, זְבוּלֻן). The link to habitation is from the root, but personal names often carry nuanced meanings beyond the bare root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Zebulun is listed as the sixth son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 30:20), giving his name to the Israelite tribe of Zebulun. In Israelite tradition, tribal names function as both individual personal designations and collective ethnic groups. The territory of Zebulun is delineated in Joshua 19:10-16, associated with the Galilean region. In poetic and prophetic contexts (such as Judges 5 and Isaiah 9:1), 'Zebulun' may function as a representative epithet for the whole tribe or that region. The term does not carry the later connotations of 'Jew' or 'Judaism,' as the Zebulunite identity pertains to the tribal and pre-monarchic/monarchic branches of Israel. The root connection to 'dwelling' is echoed in Genesis 30:20, though the precise etymological nuance is debated, with some suggesting links to honor or nobility. English translations consistently render the name as 'Zebulun,' but may obscure the root meaning for readers unfamiliar with Hebrew. Distinct from similar-sounding names such as Zevulun or Zebulon in later traditions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or זְבֻלוּן; or זְבוּלֻן; from זָבַל; habitation; Zebulon, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe; Zebulun.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זבל (z-b-l) — to dwell, to exalt, to honor

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2073 זְבוּל from the lofty dwelling of
H2075 זְבוּלֹנִי the Zebulunite clansman
H2082 זָבַל he will dwell with me
H2083 זְבֻל Zebul

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2074-08 זְבֻלֽוּן zevulun HNp Zebulun Exalted Dwelling 31
H2074-06 וּ/זְבוּלֻֽן uzevulun HC/Np and Zebulun and Exalted-Dwelling 5
H2074-04 וּ/מִ֨/זְּבוּלֻ֔ן umizevulun HC/R/Np and from Zebulun and from Exalted-Dwelling Zebulun 2
H2074-01 בִּ֠/זְבֻלוּן bizevulun HR/Np Zebulun in Exalted-Dwelling 2
H2074-02 לִ/זְבוּלֻ֕ן lizevulun HR/Np of Zebulun to Dwelling-Exalted One 2
H2074-03 מִ/זְּבֻל֞וּן mizevulun HR/Np from Zebulun from Zebulun 1
H2074-07 וְ/לִ/זְבוּלֻ֣ן velizevulun HC/R/Np And of Zebulun and to Zebulun 1
H2074-05 וּ/בִ/זְבֻלוּן֙ uvizevulun HC/R/Np and to Zebulun and in Exalted-Dwelling 1

Occurrences in Scripture

45 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2074-08 Genesis 30:20 זְבֻלֽוּן zevulun HNp Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-06 Genesis 35:23 וּ/זְבוּלֻֽן uzevulun HC/Np and Zebulun and Exalted-Dwelling
H2074-08 Genesis 46:14 זְבוּלֻ֑ן zevulun HNp Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-08 Genesis 49:13 זְבוּלֻ֕ן zevulun HNp Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-08 Exodus 1:3 זְבוּלֻ֖ן zevulun HNp Zebulun, Exalted Dwelling
H2074-02 Numbers 1:9 לִ/זְבוּלֻ֕ן lizevulun HR/Np of Zebulun to Dwelling-Exalted One
H2074-08 Numbers 1:30 זְבוּלֻ֔ן zevulun HNp of Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-08 Numbers 1:31 זְבוּלֻ֑ן zevulun HNp of Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-08 Numbers 2:7 זְבוּלֻ֑ן zevulun HNp of Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
H2074-08 Numbers 2:7 זְבוּלֻ֔ן zevulun-2 HNp of Zebulun Exalted Dwelling
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