כָּבוּל
𐤊𐤁𐤅𐤋
Kavul
H3521 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kâbûwl (כָּבוּל) functions as a proper place name in the Hebrew Bible, referring to a district or group of settlements given by Solomon to Hiram king of Tyre, as well as to a town in the territory allotted to Asher. The underlying sense may express the idea of something 'bound,' 'confined,' or 'good-for-nothing,' but its precise lexical nuance as a toponym is debated. Alternative meanings such as 'land of worthlessness,' 'restricted land,' or 'unproductive land' have been proposed in scholarship.
Semantic Range
proper place name (district or settlement called Kâbûwl), possibly 'restricted land,' 'bound land,' or 'worthless land' in idiomatic sense; may carry connotations of limitation or sterility in certain contexts
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root כבל, which means 'to bind, restrict, fetter.' The connection to the nominal form כֶּבֶל (kebel), meaning 'cord, binding,' suggests a semantic notion of limitation or restriction. The application of this root to the place name is debated, and the ultimate reason for the designation is not fully clear; some suggest derision or reference to unproductive land.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In 1 Kings 9:10–14, the territory of Kâbûwl is given as a gift by Solomon to Hiram of Tyre, who expresses dissatisfaction with it. The narrative context and Hiram's negative reaction have led to interpretations connecting the place name with terms of worthlessness or restriction. However, the exact basis for the naming and the historical identity of the area remain contested among historians and archaeologists. In Joshua 19:27, Kâbûwl appears as a town within the tribal allotment of Asher. The Septuagint and later translations render the name phonetically rather than interpretively. The name Kâbûwl does not appear in extra-biblical sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as כֶּבֶל in the sense of limitation; sterile; Cabul, the name of two places in Palestine; Cabul.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כבל (k-b-l) — bind, restrain, fetter, restrict
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3521-01 |
כָּב֖וּל | kavul | HNp |
Cabul | Bound Land | Kavul | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3521-01 |
Joshua 19:27 | כָּב֖וּל | kavul | HNp |
Cabul | Bound Land | Kavul |
H3521-01 |
1 Kings 9:13 | כָּב֔וּל | kavul | HNp |
Cabul | Bound Land | Kavul |