אֶבֶץ
𐤀𐤁𐤑
Evets
H77 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun referring to a place-name in ancient Israelite territory, most likely designating a settlement in the region allotted to the tribe of Issachar. The lexical meaning relates to 'brightness' or 'conspicuousness,' but as a toponym it functions strictly as a geographic designation and not as a common noun.
Semantic Range
brightness (presumed root meaning); name of a place in ancient Israel (proper noun; toponym)
Root / Etymology
From the root אבץ (aleph-bet-tsade), which is otherwise unattested in Biblical Hebrew. The root is presumed, on the basis of comparative Semitic forms and contextual clues, to mean 'to gleam' or 'to shine brightly'; however, this etymology is not certain. The word occurs only as a proper noun, a place name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֶבֶץ (ʼEbets) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the list of towns allotted to Issachar (Joshua 19:20). The precise location of the site is unknown, and there are no references to it outside the allocation lists. The meaning of the root is not attested in known Hebrew usage and is reconstructed based on possible cognate words in related Semitic languages and the pattern of Hebrew place names. English translations, such as the KJV, typically render the name as 'Abez,' reflecting the uncertainty and lack of distinct lexical meaning beyond its toponymic function. The boundaries referenced are from the period of tribal settlement in the land of Canaan, likely reflecting traditions preserved into the monarchic or exilic periods. No evidence suggests any direct connection between the name and later periods or identities (e.g., Judeans or Samaritans), nor any evolution of meaning beyond its use as a geographic reference.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root probably meaning to gleam; conspicuous; Ebets, a place in Palestine; Abez.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אבץ (ʾ-b-ṣ) — to gleam, to shine, to be conspicuous
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H77-01 |
וָ/אָֽבֶץ | vaavets | HC/Np |
and Ebez | And Gleaming-Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H77-01 |
Joshua 19:20 | וָ/אָֽבֶץ | vaavets | HC/Np |
and Ebez | And Gleaming-Place |