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אָבֵל בֵּית־מֲעַכָה

𐤀𐤁𐤋 𐤁𐤉𐤕־𐤌𐤏𐤊𐤄

ʼÂbêl Bêyth-Măʻakâh

H62 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אבל, בית, מעכה meadow, house, Maakah (personal/clan name)

Definition

A toponym designating an Israelite city in the northern part of ancient Israel, most accurately rendered 'meadow (or streamside area) of the house of Maakah.' This name signifies a specific locality—known for its proximity to water or a fertile meadow—associated with a clan or ruling family named Maakah. In biblical texts, it most often refers to a fortified town involved in notable events during the monarchic period.

Semantic Range

meadow of the house of Maakah (toponym), city in the far north of Israel; specific fortified settlement; proper noun only

Root / Etymology

Composed of three elements: אָבֵל (‘āvēl, 'meadow', 'streamside'), בֵּית (bêt, 'house of'), and מַעֲכָה (Maʻakhah, a personal or clan name, possibly meaning 'oppression' or 'pressure', but the meaning is debated). The lexical sense derives from this compound construction, denoting 'the meadow (or streamside) of the house/family of Maakah.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָבֵל בֵּית־מַעֲכָה designates a city located in the far north of ancient Israel, near the region of Aram. It features prominently during the United Monarchy, such as in 2 Samuel 20 (the Sheba revolt), and during the Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 15). In these contexts, its strategic location as a border fortress is stressed. The components of the name reflect standard toponymic conventions: אָבֵל typically refers in geographical names to meadowlands or fertile spaces, בֵּית to a significant family, clan, or settlement, and מַעֲכָה points either to a founder, a patron deity, or a local group. Later English Bible translations sometimes render the name as 'Abel-beth-maachah,' a transliteration. The site corresponds to Tell Abil el-Qamh, at the northern extremity of modern Israel. The term contains no reference to the later identity categories such as 'Jew' or 'Jewish'—those are applicable only centuries later. The use of this name ceases after the Assyrian conquest. The word is never used in a metaphorical or generic sense but always as a proper place name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָבֵל and בַּיִת and מַעֲכָה; meadow of Beth-Maakah; Abel of Beth-maakah, a place in Palestine; Abel-beth-maachah, Abel of Beth-maachah,

Bantu Hebrew

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

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Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — to act unjustly, to be perverse, to deal unfairly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H62-02 בֵּֽית beyt HNp Beth house of 2
H62-01 אָבֵ֣ל avel HNp Abel injustice 2
H62-03 מַעֲכָ֑ה maakhah HNp -maacah Maakah 2

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H62-01 1 Kings 15:20 אָבֵ֣ל avel HNp Abel injustice
H62-02 1 Kings 15:20 בֵּֽית beyt HNp of Beth house of
H62-03 1 Kings 15:20 מַעֲכָ֑ה maakhah HNp Maacah Maakah
H62-01 2 Kings 15:29 אָבֵ֣ל avel HNp Abel injustice
H62-02 2 Kings 15:29 בֵּֽית beyt HNp Beth house of
H62-03 2 Kings 15:29 מַעֲכָ֡ה maakhah HNp -maacah Maakah
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