בְּטֹנִים
𐤁𐤈𐤍𐤉𐤌
Betonim
H993 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Betonim is a proper noun referring to a specific location in the territory allotted to the tribe of Gad, likely signifying a place characterized by natural hollows or depressions. The term is probably a plural form rooted in the meaning of 'hollow' or 'depression.' In biblical context, its use is as a toponym rather than a common noun, and it appears solely as a place name.
Semantic Range
proper noun (place name), hollows, concavities, depression, town name in the territory of Gad
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root בטן (b-t-n), typically meaning 'belly,' 'abdomen,' or 'inside,' and by extension, it can refer to a hollow or concavity. The suffix -ים (-im) forms a masculine plural, so בְּטֹנִים ('Betonim') likely means 'hollows' or 'deep places.' The connection with the root בטן focuses on the physical sense of being hollow or sunken, rather than the anatomical sense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Betonim appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Joshua 13:26), as a town in the allotment for the tribe of Gad, east of the Jordan River. Its specific location has not been securely identified archaeologically. The root בטן is most frequently used in the Hebrew Bible for 'belly' or 'womb,' but in the context of toponymy, it generally connotes a feature characterized by a depression or hollow in the land. The English usage 'Betonim' is a transliteration; English translations sometimes add descriptive terms (e.g., 'the hollows'), but the term's use as a place name should avoid any anachronistic application of these descriptions. The place name does not appear outside Joshua 13:26, and its usage does not overlap with later Israelite, Judahite, or Judean history.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably plural from בֹּטֶן; hollows; Betonim, a place in Palestine; Betonim.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בטן (b-ṭ-n) — to be hollow, to be concave, belly, inside
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H993-01 |
וּ/בְטֹנִ֑ים | uvetonim | HC/Np |
and Betonim | and Hollows | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H993-01 |
Joshua 13:26 | וּ/בְטֹנִ֑ים | uvetonim | HC/Np |
and Betonim | and Hollows |