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2 Chronicles 11:5 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּ֥שֶׁב רְחַבְעָ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּ֧בֶן עָרִ֛ים לְמָצ֖וֹר בִּיהוּדָֽה׃

BSARehoboamRᵉchabʻâm [the son of Solomon, a king of Judah] livedyâshab in JerusalemYᵉrûwshâlaim [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] and he built upbânâh [established, fortified] citiesʻîyr [towns, fortified places] for defensemâtsôwr [siege, stronghold, a place of protection] in JudahYᵉhûwdâh [the region of the tribe of Judah]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 11
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Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
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2 Chronicles 11:5quick helps
In a sentenceRehoboam lived in Jerusalem and fortified cities in Judah.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes Rehoboam's actions.
Where we areThe context is the reign of Rehoboam after Solomon.
The hard wordמָצוֹר
Take awayRehoboam established defenses for his kingdom.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרְחַבְעָם verbיָשַׁב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 11:5

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Reign of Rehoboamgenerated

4that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.
5Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

2 Chronicles 11:5 describes Rehoboam's decision to remain in Jerusalem and fortify cities in Judah as a response to the political situation following Solomon's reign. This action reflects his role as king and the need for defense against potential threats. The surrounding verses detail the context of his reign and the challenges he faced, including internal strife within the kingdom.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Chronicles 8:2–6Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him and settled Israelites there.
22 Chronicles 14:6–7Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.
32 Chronicles 16:6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
42 Chronicles 17:12Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah
52 Chronicles 26:6Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָשַׁב, vai.Ye.shevgenerated

The verb יָשַׁב (yashab) means to dwell or sit, indicating a state of remaining in a location. It encompasses a range of meanings, from simply sitting down to establishing a home or inhabiting a place. In this verse, it emphasizes Rehoboam's choice to reside in Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.

The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular indicates that Rehoboam's dwelling is an ongoing action, highlighting his established presence in Jerusalem during his reign.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which has continued to live, and this is echoed in the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָשַׁב (yashab) governs the entire verse, with two phrases hanging off it: a prepositional phrase indicating the location of his dwelling and a subsequent verb phrase describing his actions in building cities. This structure emphasizes Rehoboam's dual focus on residence and fortification.

The word order places Rehoboam at the forefront, highlighting his role as the subject who both dwells and builds, establishing a sense of authority and initiative in his actions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָשַׁב as κατῴκησεν (katoikēsen), meaning 'he dwelt.' This choice maintains the focus on Rehoboam's residence in Jerusalem, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.

The translation of מָצוֹר is rendered in the LXX but does not have a specific Greek equivalent listed here. This suggests a similar understanding of fortification or defense in the context of Rehoboam's actions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 11:5 tells us that Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. This reflects his role as king and the need for security in his kingdom.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem?

It signifies his establishment of authority and governance in the capital city after Solomon's reign.

Why did Rehoboam build cities for defense?

He built these cities to protect his kingdom from potential threats and to secure his rule.

What is the significance of Jerusalem as the capital?

Jerusalem was the political and spiritual center of Judah, symbolizing stability and strength.

How does Rehoboam's action reflect his leadership?

His decision to fortify cities demonstrates proactive leadership in ensuring the safety and security of his people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn from Rehoboam's decision to fortify cities for defense?
  2. How does the choice of dwelling in Jerusalem reflect on a leader's priorities?
  3. In what ways can we establish security in our own lives or communities?
  4. What does this passage teach us about the responsibilities of leadership?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 11:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem,.... The metropolis of Judah, and the capital city of his kingdom: and built cities for defence in Judah; that is, rebuilt, enlarged, and fortified them; for otherwise

Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Built cities, i.e. repaired, and enlarged, and fortified them; as building is oft used in Scripture, as hath been formerly proved; for these cities, or divers of them, were built before, as appears from 12:15 15:21,33,35,58 19:42.

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Chronicles 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.Ver. 5. And Rehoboam dwelt, &c.] See 1 Kings 12:18.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(b) THE OF HIS KINGDOM (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). This section is peculiar to the chronicler. (5) Dwelt in Jerusalem.—As the capital. Cities for defence.—(‘Arξm l’mβητr = ‘arκ mβητr; 2 Chronicles 8:5), “embattled cities; “LXX., πόλειςτειχήρεις. In Judah.—Not the territory of the tribe, but the kingdom is intended, for some of the fortresses were in Benjamin (2 Chronicles 11:10).

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 11 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. And built cities for defense in Judah.] He was obliged to strengthen his frontiers against the encroachments of the men of Israel; and Jeroboam did the same thing on his part to prevent the inroads of Judah. See 1Kg 12:25.

Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–23. The Prosperity of Rehoboam This section has no corresponding section in 1 Kin. On the other hand the Chronicler omits three important sections of 1 Kings 12:25-33 (the setting up of the golden calves), 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 (the episode of the prophet who cried against the altar in Beth-el) and 2 Chronicles 14:1-15 (the death of the son of Jeroboam).

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rehoboam was between two dangers: on the north he might be attacked by Jeroboam, on the south by Jeroboam’s ally, Egypt.

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Chronicles 11 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Rehoboam dwelt in Ierusalem, and buylt strong cities in Iudah.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Rehoboam dwelleth in Jerusalem, and buildeth cities for a bulwark in Judah,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Rehoboam dwells in Jerusalem, and builds cities for a bulwark in Judah,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Rehobo'am dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities as fortresses in Judah.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities in Judah for defense.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he strengthened the defenses of the towns in Judah.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Now Rehoboam kept in Jerusalem, building walled towns in Judah.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֵּ֥שֶׁבhe.dweltsubjectרְחַבְעָ֖םRehoboamprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּinירוּשָׁלִָ֑םJerusalemוַandclauseverbיִּ֧בֶןhe.builtobjectעָרִ֛יםcitiesprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoמָצ֖וֹרfortificationprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּinיהוּדָֽהJudah

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of 2 Chronicles 11:5. Both texts convey Rehoboam's dwelling in Jerusalem and his actions in building cities for defense.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב רְחַבְעָ֖ם בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּ֧בֶן עָרִ֛ים לְמָצ֖וֹר בִּיהוּדָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁבκατῴκησενרְחַבְעָ֖םροβοαμבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םιερουσαλημוַיִּ֧בֶןᾠκοδόμησενעָרִ֛יםπόλειςלְמָצ֖וֹרτειξήρειςבִּיהוּדָֽה׃ἐν

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Chronicles 11:5יָשַׁבand he dweland he dweltיָשַׁברְחַבְעָםRehoboamRehoboamרְחַבְעָםיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫in Jerusalein Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫בָּנָהand he builand he builtבָּנָהעִירcitiescitiesעִירמָצוֹרto fortificto fortificatioמָצוֹריְהוּדָהin Judahin Judahיְהוּדָהרָחַבto enlargeto enlargeרָחַבעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרצוּרto confineto confineצוּריָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהיְרוּשְׁלֵםJerusalemJerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֵםיָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִיאָמֵץto strengtto strengthenאָמֵץשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonSolomonשְׁלֹמֹהמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְמִזְבֵּחַaltaraltarמִזְבֵּחַמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדמָצוֹקdistressdistressמָצוֹקצוּקto pressto pressצוּקצִדְקִיָּ֫הוּZedekiahZedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 11:5

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shev and he dwelt H3427 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
רְחַבְעָ֖םre.chav.'Am Rehoboam H7346 Noun proper masculine
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Rehoboam was a king of Judah, son of Solomon and Naamah, and is first mentioned in 1 Kings 11:43. He had several wives and children, including Abijah and Jeush. Rehoboam played a key role in the United and Divided Monarchy periods.
Amplified meaning
the son of Solomon, a king of Judah
Tyndale gloss
Rehoboam
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רְחַבְעָם (Rechab'am) refers to Rehoboam, a king of Judah and son of Solomon. The name means 'a people has enlarged' and is derived from roots meaning 'to be wide' and 'people.' He is first mentioned in 1 Kings 11:43 and is noted for ruling during the Divided Monarchy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רְחַבְעָם n.pr.m. Rehoboam;—king of Judah, son of Solomon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7346 רְחַבְעָם

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7346 Rchab`am rekh-ab-awm'

from 7337 and 5971; a people has enlarged; Rechabam, an

Israelite king:--Rehoboam.

see HEBREW for 07337

see HEBREW for 05971

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רְחַבְעָם (re.chav.am) — Rehoboam.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.43;

son of: Solomon (H8010) and Naamah (H5279A);

brother of: Taphath (H2955) and Basemath (H1315); married to Maacah (H4601K), Mahalath (H4258H) and Abihail (H0032J);

father of: Abijah (H0029I), Jeush (H3266K), Shemariah (H8114H), Zaham (H2093), Attai (H6262I), Ziza (H2124H) and Shelomith (H8019)

Also named: Rhoboam (Ῥοβοάμ "Rehoboam" G4497)

§ Rehoboam = "a people has enlarged"

son of Solomon and the 1st king of Judah after the split up of the kingdom of Israel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

re-ho-bo'-am (rechabh`am, "the people is enlarged," or perhaps "Am is wide" Rhoboam; "Roboam," Mt 1:7 the King James Version):

1. The Disruption of the Kingdom

2. Underlying Causes of Disruption

3. Shemaiah Forbids Civil War

4. Rehoboam's Prosperity

5. Shishak's Invasion

6. His Death

The son and successor of Solomon, the last king to claim the throne of old Israel and the first king of Judah after the division of the kingdom. He was born circa 978 BC. His mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess. The account of his reign is contained in 1Ki 14:21-31; 2Ch 10-12. The incidents leading to the disruption of the kingdom are told in 1Ki 11:43-12:24; 2Ch 9:31-11:4.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Rehoboam

He enlarges the people, the successor of Solomon on the throne, and apparently his only son. He was the son of Naamah “the Ammonitess,” some well-known Ammonitish princess (1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chr. 12:13). He was forty-one years old when he ascended the throne, and he reigned seventeen years (B.C. 975-958). Although he was acknowledged at once as the rightful heir to the throne, yet there was a strongly-felt desire to modify the character of the government. The burden of taxation to which they had been subjected during Solomon’s reign was very oppressive, and therefore the people assembled at Shechem and demanded from the king an alleviation of their burdens. He went to meet them at Shechem, and heard their demands for relief (

(enlarger of the people), son of Solomon by the Ammonite princess Naamah, (1 Kings 14:21,31) and his successor. (1 Kings 11:43) Rehoboam selected Shechem as the place of his coronation (B.C. 975), probably as an act of concession to the Ephraimites. The people demanded a remission of the severe burdens imposed by Solomon, and Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of his father’s counsellors, followed that of his young courtiers, and returned an insulting answer, which led to an open rebellion among the tribes, and he was compelled to fly to Jerusalem, Judah and Benjamin alone remaining true to him. Jeroboam was made king of the northern tribes. [JEROBOAM] An expedition to reconquer Israel was forbidden by the prophet Shemaiah, (1 Kings…

The son and successor of Solomon, by Naamah, an Ammonitess, 1Ki 12:1-33 14:21-31 2Ch 10:1-12:16. He was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and was therefore born at the beginning of his father’s reign.

He ascended the throne about 975 B.C., and reigned seventeen years at Jerusalem. Under his reign the ten tribes revolted, and formed the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. The immediate cause of this schism was Rehoboam’s headstrong folly in rejecting experienced counselors, and claiming tyrannical power. He at once sought to recover the revolted tribes by force; and though directed by God not to make war, he did not long delay hostilities, and these continued during his whole reign. The people also fell into idolatry, and were punished in the fifth year of Rehoboam by an…

and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.Lim in Jerusalem H3389 Preposition · noun proper
643× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Amplified meaning
the city of peace, the capital of Judah
Tyndale gloss
Jerusalem
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם (Yruwshalaim) refers to Jerusalem, the capital city of Palestine. The name is thought to derive from terms meaning 'founded peaceful' and is linked to its two main hills. It is described as the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם 644 n.pr.loc. Jerusalem

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3389 יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם Jerusalem

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3389 Yruwshalaim yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im

rarely Yruwshalayim {yer-oo- shaw-lah'-yim}; a dual (in

allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of

the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from

(the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful;

Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of

Palestine:--Jerusalem.

see HEBREW for 03390

see HEBREW for 03384

see HEBREW for 07999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם (ye.ru.sha.laim) — Jerusalem.

§ Jerusalem = "teaching of peace"

the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

je-roo'-sa-lem:

I. THE NAME

1. In Cuneiform

2. In Hebrew

3. In Greek and Latin

4. The Meaning of Jerusalem

5. Other Names

II. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS

1. Geology

2. Climate and Rainfall

3. The Natural Springs

III. THE NATURAL SITE

1. The Mountains Around

2. The Valleys

3. The Hills

IV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM

1. Description of Josephus

2. Summary of the Names of the Five Hills

3. The Akra

4. The Lower City

5. City of David and Zion

V. EXCAVATIONS AND ANTIQUITIES

1. Robinson

2. Wilson, and the Palestine Exploration Fund (1865)

3. Warren and Conder

4. Maudslay

5. Schick

6. Clermont-Ganneau

7. Bliss and Dickie

8. Jerusalem Archaeological Societies

VI. THE CITY'S WALLS AND GATES

1. The Existing Walls

2. Wilson's Theory

3. The Existing Gates

4. Buried Remains of Earlier Walls

5. The Great Dam of the Tyropoeon

6. Ruins of Ancient Gates

7. Josephus' Description of the Walls

8. First Wall

9. Second Wall

10. Third Wall

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jerusalem

Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the “city of God,” the “holy city;” by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning “the holy;” once “the city of Judah” (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means “possession of peace,” or “foundation of peace.” The dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion and Moriah; or, as some suppose, to the two parts of the city, the “upper” and the “lower city.” Jerusalem is a “mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness” (comp. Ps. 68:15, 16; 87:1; 125:2; 76:1, 2; 122:3). It stands on the edge of one of the highest table-lands in Palestine, and is surrounded on the south-eastern, the southern, and the western sides by deep and precipitous ravines.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the habitation of peace), Jerusalem stands in latitude 31 degrees 46’ 35" north and longitude 35 degrees 18’ 30" east of Greenwich. It is 32 miles distant from the sea and 18 from the Jordan, 20 from Hebron and 36 from Samaria. "In several respects," says Dean Stanley, "its situation is singular among the cities of Palestine. Its elevation is remarkable; occasioned not from its being on the summit of one of the numerous hills of Judea, like most of the towns and villages, but because it is on the edge of one of the highest table-lands of the country. Hebron indeed is higher still by some hundred feet, and from the south, accordingly (even from Bethlehem), the approach to Jerusalem is by a slight descent. But from any other side the ascent is perpetual; and to the traveller approaching the city from the east or west it must always have presented the appearance beyond any other capital…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The chief city of the Holy Land, and to the Christian the most illustrious in the world. It is situated in 31 degrees 46’43" N. lat., and 35 degrees 13’ E. long. on elevated ground south of the center of the country, about thirty-seven miles from the Mediterranean, and about twenty-four from the Jordan. Its site was early hallowed by God’s trial of Abraham’s faith, Ge 22:1-24 2Ch 3:1. It was on the border of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, mostly within the limits of the former, but reckoned as belonging to the latter, because conquered by it, Jos 15:8 18:16,28 Jud 1:18. The most ancient name of the city was Salem, Ge…

and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
וַיִּ֧בֶןvai.Yi.ven and he built H1129 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
established, fortified
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)

1b4) established (made permanent)

1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)

Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
עָרִ֛ים'a.Rim cities H5892 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
towns, fortified places
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Ancient Ge 4:17; 10:10-12

→ Fortified Nu 32:36; De 9:1; Jos 10:20; 14:12; 2Ch 8:5; 11:10-12; 17:2,19; 21:3; Isa 23:11

→ Gates of

See GATES

→ Designated as

Royal Jos 10:2; 1Sa 27:5; 2Sa 12:26; 1Ch 11:7

Treasure Ge 41:48; Ex 1:11;

- First mention of

Ge 4:17

- Designed for habitations

Ps 107:7,36

- Often built to perpetuate a name

Ge 11:4

- Often founded and enlarged by blood and rapine

Mic 3:10; Hab 2:12

- BUILT

. Of brick and slime

Ge 11:3

. Of stone and wood

Ps 102:14; Eze 26:12

. Of brick and mortar

Ex 1:11,14

. On solid foundations

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) General References to

Ge 11:4; 18:24; 41:48; Nu 13:28; De 6:10; 2Ki 13:25

Ps 55:9; Mic 5:14

(2) Fenced

Nu 32:17; De 3:5; Jos 10:20; 2Ki 18:13; 2Ch 14:6; 17:2

2Ch 19:5; 21:3; 33:14; Jer 5:17

and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
לְמָצ֖וֹרle.ma.Tzor to fortification H4692 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a siege or a place of entrenchment, like a fortress or stronghold. It's used in the Bible to describe a city under attack, such as in 2 Kings 17:5. It can also mean a defense or bulwark.
Amplified meaning
siege, stronghold, a place of protection
Tyndale gloss
siege
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצוֹר (matsowr) refers to a siege or an enclosure used during a siege, such as a rampart or fortification. It can denote both the physical structures associated with besieging and the abstract concept of distress. The word is built from a root meaning to hem in, indicating confinement or defense.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצוֹר n.[m.] siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4692 מָצוֹר siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4692 matsowr maw-tsore'

or matsuwr {maw-tsoor'}; from 6696; something hemming in,

i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a

siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a

fastness:--besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress,

siege, strong (hold), tower.

see HEBREW for 06696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצוֹר (ma.tsor) — siege.

1) siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works

1a) siege

1b) enclosure, siege-works, rampart

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
and he dwelt Rehoboam in Jerusalem and he built cities to fortification in Judah
בִּיהוּדָֽה׃bi.hu.Dah in Judah H3063 Preposition · noun proper
820× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
the region of the tribe of Judah
Tyndale gloss
(Baalah of)Judah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהוּדָה (yehudah) means 'Judah' and is derived from a root meaning 'praised.' It refers to the son of Jacob and Leah, the tribe descended from him, and the territory they occupied. The term also encompasses the southern kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Additionally, it identifies various individuals, including Levites and overseers during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוּדָה 820 n.pr.m. et terr. Judah

n.pr.m.

son of Jacob and Leah

tribe descended from Judah

nation, of southern kingdom under dynasty of David, as distinguished from northern kingdom of Ephraim or Israel

Levite, Ezra’s time

an overseer of Jerus.

Levite musician

priest

n.pr.terr. land of Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3063 יְהוּדָה Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw'

from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five

Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of

its territory:--Judah.

see HEBREW for 03034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוּדָה (ye.hu.dah) — Judah.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559);

father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I)

§ Judah = "praised"

1) the son of Jacob by Leah

2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob

3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah

4) the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon

5) a Levite in Ezra's time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Judah

Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” (Gen. 29:35).

It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared (Gen. 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” (Gen. 43:3-10; 44:14, 16-34; 46:28; 1 Chr. 5:2).

Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(praised, celebrated), the fourth son of Jacob and the fourth of Leah. (B.C. after 1753.) Of Judah’s personal character more traits are preserved than of any other of the patriarchs, with the exception of Joseph, whose life he in conjunction with Reuben saved. (Genesis 37:26-28) During the second visit to Egypt for corn it was Judah who understood to be responsible for the safety of Benjamin, ch. (Genesis 43:3-10) and when, through Joseph’s artifice, the brothers were brought back to the palace, he is again the leader and spokesman of the band. So too it is Judah who is sent before Jacob to smooth the way for him in the land of Goshen. ch. (Genesis 46:28) This ascendancy over his brethren is reflected in the last words…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia, B. C. 1755, Ge 29:35. His name appears honorably in the history of Joseph, Ge 37:26,27 44:16-34; but disgracefully in that of Tamar his daughter-in-law, Ge 38:1-30. The dying benediction of Jacob foretells the superior power and prosperity of the family of Judah, and their continuance as chief of the Jewish race until the time of Christ, Ge 49:8-12. Though not the firstborn, Judah soon came to be considered as the chief of Jacob’s children, and his tribe was the most powerful and numerous. The southeastern part of Palestine fell to their lot. See JUDEA. On the border of their territory was Jerusalem, the seat of the…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the praise of the Lord; confession

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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