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אִבְצָן

𐤀𐤁𐤑𐤍

Ivetsan

H78 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, possibly 'to shine' or 'to bubble/swell'

Definition

Ibtsan, a personal name designating an individual noted as a leader or judge of Israelite society in the biblical period. The meaning generally accepted is 'Ibtsan,' with possible connotations of 'splendid' or 'brilliant,' although the precise meaning is uncertain due to limited attestation and unclear etymology. The term functions exclusively as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

personal name (Ibtsan), proper noun only

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain; some suggest connection to אֲבַעְבֻּעָה (bubbling, swelling) from the root אביב or related to בָּצַע (to shine, be splendid), but there is no consensus. The name is a theophoric or descriptive personal name, and its connection to the suggested root remains speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ibtsan appears only in Judges 12:8–10 as one of the judges of Israel after Jephthah. His characterization focuses exclusively on his role and period of leadership, with no explicit reference to the meaning or significance of his name in the narrative. The standard English translations render the name transliterated as 'Ibzan,' following the underlying Hebrew. The term is not used in reference to any group identity, territory, or later Judean or ethnic concept. There are no indications of the name carrying theological overtones or being used outside the proper name context. The etymology offered in older sources, connecting it to 'splendour' or 'brightness,' is possible but not linguistically certain. Later translations and traditions do not associate the name with the English term 'Jew' or broader religious identities. Ibtsan remains a unique personal name in the Hebrew Bible, with no evidence of broader lexical development or extended usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as אֲבַעְבֻּעָה; splendid; Ibtsan, an Israelite; Ibzan.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly shine, bubble, swell

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H78-01 אִבְצָ֖ן ivetsan HNp Ibzan Ibtsan 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H78-01 Judges 12:8 אִבְצָ֖ן ivetsan HNp Ibzan Ibtsan
H78-01 Judges 12:10 אִבְצָ֔ן ivetsan HNp Ibzan Ibtsan
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