מַגְבִּישׁ
𐤌𐤂𐤁𐤉𐤔
Magebish
H4019 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun, referring either to an Israelite family group returning from Babylonian exile or the name of a locality; the name itself may convey the idea of 'crystallization' or 'solidifying,' following from its root associations, but as a proper name its lexical meaning is somewhat opaque.
Semantic Range
proper name for a family group, proper name of a returning group from exile, possible place-name, etymological hints at 'crystallize' or 'solidify' but not functionally used in that sense
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ג-ב-ש (G-B-Sh), usually meaning to solidify or crystallize. The related noun גָּבִישׁ (gāvîsh) typically refers to a crystal or something crystalline. The prefixed מַ (ma-) is a common nominal marker indicating place, instrument, or abstraction in Hebrew noun formation. Thus, מַגְבִּישׁ could mean 'place of crystal' or 'crystallization.' As a personal or geographical name, the precise motivation for the designation is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַגְבִּישׁ appears in Ezra 2:30 and Nehemiah 7:33 in lists of returnees from Babylon, identified either as a clan, a patronymic group, or a settlement. The identification between a family and a geographical locality is common in post-exilic lists, making it unclear whether the term here refers to people or their settlement. The term is attested only in the context of the return from exile and does not appear in pre-exilic or later biblical literature. English translations sometimes treat Magbish as a personal, tribal, or toponymic designation, but the term never denotes religious or ethnic identity beyond its role as an identifier in the post-exilic community. The precise meaning of the name remains uncertain, and its relation to crystalline substance is based only on etymological connection to גָּבִישׁ, not borne out in narrative context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as גָּבִישׁ; stiffening; Magbish, an Israelite, or a place in Palestine; Magbish.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבש (g-b-sh) — to solidify, crystallize, take shape
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4019-01 |
מַגְבִּ֔ישׁ | magebish | HNp |
Magbish | Crystallization-place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4019-01 |
Ezra 2:30 | מַגְבִּ֔ישׁ | magebish | HNp |
Magbish | Crystallization-place |