Joshua 13:19 — Word Study
WLCוְקִרְיָתַ֣יִם וְשִׂבְמָ֔ה וְצֶ֥רֶת הַשַּׁ֖חַר בְּהַ֥ר הָעֵֽמֶק׃
BSAKiriathaimQiryâthayim [two cities, a dual town] SibmahSᵉbâm [a fragrant town] Zereth-shaharTsereth hash-Shachar [splendour of the dawn] on the hillhar [mountain, a high point] in the valleyʻêmeq [lowland area, a place of humility]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְקִרְיָתַ֣יִם | and Kiriathaim | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וְשִׂבְמָ֔ה | and Sibmah | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וְצֶ֥רֶת | and Zereth | Conjunction, noun proper |
| הַשַּׁ֖חַר | Shahar | Particle, noun proper |
| בְּהַ֥ר | on [the] hill of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הָעֵֽמֶק׃ | the valley | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, |
| KJV | And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley, |
| ASV | and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley, |
| YLT | and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-Shahar, in the mount of the valley, |
| WEB | Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley, |
| BBE | And Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mountain of the valley; |
Where they part company is in the descriptive amplifications provided in the BSB.
The sentence lists towns and their locations, with a straightforward structure emphasizing the geographical context.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 — Joshua 13:19
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 Allotment of Landgenerated
Joshua 13:19 details the cities that were allotted to the tribes of Israel, specifically mentioning Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar. These locations were significant in the context of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land, representing both geographical landmarks and cultural heritage.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 32:37–38 | The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קִרְיָתַיִם, ve.kir.ya.Ta.yimgenerated
The word קִרְיָתַיִם (Qiryathayim) is a dual noun meaning 'two cities.' It refers to a town in Naphtali and is mentioned in the context of cities in Palestine, indicating its dual nature.
The term is derived from a related word that emphasizes its duality, marking it as a significant place in the biblical narrative. It is associated with the Gershonite Levites and highlights the importance of cities in the tribal allotments.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which includes the amplified descriptions of the towns.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause lists the towns: וְקִרְיָתַיִם, וְשִׂבְמָה, and וְצֶרֶת — all connected by conjunctions. The structure emphasizes the enumeration of these locations.
The prepositional phrase בְּהַר introduces the geographical context, indicating that these towns are situated on a hill in the valley, which adds a layer of topographical detail to the description.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קִרְיָתַיִם as καριαθαιμ, maintaining the duality implied in the Hebrew. This choice reflects an understanding of the town's significance as a dual location.
The Greek translation does not provide the same level of descriptive amplification found in the BSB but retains the essential names of the towns, indicating their importance in the narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 13:19 lists three towns: Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar. Kiriathaim means 'two cities,' Sibmah is known for its fragrance, and Zereth-shahar means 'splendour of the dawn.' These towns are located on a hill in the valley, highlighting their geographical significance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Kiriathaim means 'two cities' and refers to a town in Naphtali.
Sibmah is known for its fragrance and was allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
Zereth-shahar means 'splendour of the dawn' and is a town in Reuben.
These towns are part of the land allotment for the tribes of Israel, indicating their importance in the settlement of the Promised Land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do the names of these towns reflect their characteristics?
- What can we learn about the significance of geographical locations in the biblical narrative?
- How does understanding the meanings of these towns enhance our reading of this passage?
- In what ways do the descriptions of these towns contribute to our understanding of Israel's history?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 13:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Kirjathaim,.... Of which [See comments on Numbers 32:37]; and Sibmah; of which [See comments on Numbers 32:3] and [See comments on Numbers 32:38]; and Zarethshahar, in the mount of the valley;
Read John Gill on Joshua 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, Kirjathaim - now Kureiyat, or Kureiyeh, at the foot of Jebel-Attarus (Genesis 14:5; Numbers 32:37; Jeremiah 48:1; Jeremiah 48:23; Ezekiel 25:9).
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn the mountain bordering upon that valley, which then was famous among the Israelites, whether that where Moses was buried, which was near to the place here following, Beth-peor, ,6, or some other. And this clause is thought to belong to all the cities now mentioned.
Read Matthew Poole on Joshua 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersOF THE BY MOSES ON THE EAST OF JORDAN (Joshua 13:15-33). (15) Reuben.—See also Numbers 32:33-42 and Deuteronomy 3:16, &c.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 19. Kirjathaim] This city, according to Eusebius, was nine miles distant from Medeba, towards the east. It passed from the Emim to the Moabites, from the Moabites to the Amorites, and from the Amorites to the Israelites, Genesis 14:6; Deuteronomy 2:20. Calmet supposes the Reubenites possessed it till the time they were carried away by the Assyrians; and then the Moabites appear to have taken possession of it anew, as he collects from Jeremiah 48:1 c., and Ezekiel 25:9 &c. Sibmah] A place remarkable for its vines. See Isaiah 16:8-9, Jeremiah 48:32. Zareth-shahar, in the mount of the valley] This probably means a town situated on or near to a hill in some flat country.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges19. and Kirjathaim] In Jeremiah 48:1; Jeremiah 48:23 and Ezekiel 25:9 the name is given in our version as Kiriathaim. This place, as well as Dibon, Beth-baal-meon, and Medeba, is found among the proper names recorded on the now celebrated “Moabite stone.” Canon Tristram would identify it with the modern Kureiyat. “The twin hills explain the Hebrew dual and plural terminations.” Land of Moab, p. 275. Sibmah] Hardly 500 paces from Heshbon, according to Jerome. Isaiah and Jeremiah mention it in the lament pronounced over Moab (Isaiah 16:8-9; Jeremiah 48:32). and Zareth-shahar] = “the Splendour of the Dawn,” in Mount Ira-Emak = “the Mountain of the Valley.” Menke places it west of Mount Pisgah…
Read Cambridge on Joshua 13 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible19. Kirjathaim — The word means the double city, and in the English version is sometimes written Kiriathaim. In its plain Chedorlaomer and his confederate kings smote the Emim in the days of Abraham. Genesis 14:5.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 13 →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
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley,
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,
Tyndale line
And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley,
and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley,
and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley;
And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley,
Kiriathaim also, and Sibmah, and Zerethshahar in the mount of Emek:
Strictly literal
and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mountain of the vale,
and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-Shahar, in the mount of the valley,
and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-Shahar, on the mountain of the valley,
And Kiryathayim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-hashachar on the mount of the valley,
and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth Shahar on the hill of the valley.
From the Latin
And Cariathaim, and Sabama, and Sarathasar in the mountain of the valley.
Simplified
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar, on a hill in the valley,
And Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mountain of the valley;
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists the towns as וְקִרְיָתַיִם וְשִׂבְמָה וְצֶרֶת הַשַּׁחַר בְּהַר הָעֵמֶק׃. The Septuagint matches three of the six words, indicating a degree of consistency between the two texts, though the word order differs.
וְקִרְיָתַ֣יִם וְשִׂבְמָ֔ה וְצֶ֥רֶת הַשַּׁ֖חַר בְּהַ֥ר הָעֵֽמֶק׃
3 of the 6 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.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 13:19
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.
קִרְיָתַ֫יִם (Qiryathayim) means 'double city' and refers to two locations in Palestine: one in Moab and another in Naphtali. The term is derived from the dual form of a related word, indicating its dual nature. It is mentioned in contexts related to cities and villages, specifically in Leviticus and 1 Chronicles.
קִרְיָתַ֫יִם n.pr.loc. (perh. double city)
in Moab
Levit. city in Naphtali
base
H7156 קִרְיָתַ֫יִם (perh. double city) . in Moab
. Levit. city in Naphtali
7156 Qiryathayim keer-yaw-thah'-yim
dual of 7151; double city; Kirjathaim, the name of two placed
in Palestine:--Kiriathaim, Kirjathaim.
see HEBREW for 07151
קִרְיָתַ֫יִם (qir.ya.ta.yim) — Kiriathaim.
Kiriathaim = "two cities"
a city east of the Jordan in Moab
Also named: qe.riy.yot (קְרִיּוֹת "Kerioth" H7152H)
קִרְיָתַ֫יִם (qir.ya.ta.yim) — Kiriathaim.
Kiriathaim, villages (1Ch.6.76)
§ Kiriathaim = "two cities"
a town in Naphtali allotted to the Gershonite Levites
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
kir-i-aitha'-im (qiryathaym, "two cities"; the King James Version, Kirjathaim):
(1) A city in the uplands of Moab formerly held by Sihon, and given by Moses to Reuben, who is said to have fortified it (Nu 32:37; Jos 13:19). It is named along with Elealeh and Nebo in the former passage, and with Sibmah in the latter. It was in the hands of Moab in Mesha's time, and he claims to have fortified it (M S, l.10). For Jeremiah (48:1,23) and Ezekiel (25:9) it is a Moabite town. Eusebius, Onomasticon, identifies it with Coraitha, a Christian village 10 Roman miles West of Madeba. This is the modern Qaraiyat, about 11 miles West of Madeba, and 5 miles East of Macherus. This, however, may represent Kerioth, while the towns with which it is named would lead us to look for Kiriathaim to the…
[KIRJATHAIM]
→ See KIRJATHAIM
שְׂבָם (se.vam) refers to a location in Moab, possibly meaning 'fragrance.' It is identified as a town allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, located near Heshbon. The entries indicate variations in spelling, such as Sibmah and Shebam, but all refer to the same place.
שְׂבָם n.pr.loc. in Moab (Reuben), near Heshbon
base
H7643 שְׂבָם in Moab (Reuben), near Heshbon
7643 Sbam seb-awm'
or (feminine) Sibmah {sib-maw'}; probably from 1313; spice;
Sebam or Sibmah, a place in Moab:--Shebam, Shibmah, Sibmah.
see HEBREW for 01313
שְׂבָם (se.vam) — Sebam.
§ Shebam or Shibmah or Sibmah = "fragrance"
one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of the Jordan in Moab; allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad
שְׂבָם (se.vam) — Sibmah.
§ Shebam or Shibmah or Sibmah = "fragrance"
one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of the Jordan in Moab; allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
sib'-ma.
See SEBAM.
Sibmah
Coolness; fragrance, a town in Reuben, in the territory of Moab, on the east of Jordan (Josh. 13:19); called also Shebam and Shibmah (Num. 32:3, 38). It was famous for its vines (Isa. 16:9; Jer. 48:32). It has been identified with the ruin of Sumieh, where there are rock-cut wine-presses. This fact explains the words of the prophets referred to above. It was about 5 miles east of Heshbon.
[SHEBAM]
A city of Reuben, Nu 32:28; Jos 13:19; Isa 16:8,9, speaks of the vines of Sibmah, which were cut down by the enemies of the Moabites; for that people had taken the city of Sibmah, Jer 48:32, and other cities of Reuben, after this tribe had been carried into captivity by Tiglath-pileser, 2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26. Jerome says that between Hesbon and Sibmah there was hardly the distance of five hundred paces.
צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר n.pr.loc. assigned to Reuben Jos 13:19
ref
H6890 צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר
6890 Tsereth hash-Shachar tseh'-reth hash-shakh'-ar
from the same as 6889 and 7837 with the article interposed;
splendor of the dawn; Tsereth-hash-Shachar, a place in
Palestine:--Zareth-shahar.
see HEBREW for 06889
see HEBREW for 07837
צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר (tse.ret hash.sha.char) — Zereth-shahar.
§ Zareth-shahar = "splendour of the dawn"
a town in Reuben
N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
ze'-reth (tsereth, meaning unknown): A Judahite (1Ch 4:7).
(splendor), son of Ashur, the founder of Tekoa, by his wife Helah. (1 Chronicles 4:7) (B.C. 1440.)
same as Zer
→ Son of Ashur 1Ch 4:7
צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר n.pr.loc. assigned to Reuben Jos 13:19
ref
H6890 צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר
6890 Tsereth hash-Shachar tseh'-reth hash-shakh'-ar
from the same as 6889 and 7837 with the article interposed;
splendor of the dawn; Tsereth-hash-Shachar, a place in
Palestine:--Zareth-shahar.
see HEBREW for 06889
see HEBREW for 07837
צֶרֶת הַשַּׁ֫חַר (tse.ret hash.sha.char) — Zereth-shahar.
§ Zareth-shahar = "splendour of the dawn"
a town in Reuben
HTd/Npl — Particle · noun properHTd/Npl
הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.
הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country
mountain, hill
hill-country, mountain-region
base
H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country
2022 har har
a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills
(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X
promotion.
see HEBREW for 02042
הַר (har) — mountain: mount.
: mount/hill
hill, mountain, hill country, mount
הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.
: hill_country
hill, mountain, hill country, mount
A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word עֵ֫מֶק (*'emeq*) means 'vale' or 'valley,' indicating a broad depression in the landscape. It is derived from the root meaning 'deepening' or 'depth.' This term is often used in proper names, such as the Valley of Achor and the Valley of Elah, and covers a range of valleys and lowlands mentioned in the Old Testament.
עֵ֫מֶק 70 n.m. vale (prop. deepening, depth)
base
H6010 עֵ֫מֶק vale (prop. deepening, depth)
6010 `emeq ay'-mek
from 6009; a vale (i.e. broad depression):--dale, vale,
valley (often used as a part of proper names). See also 1025.
see HEBREW for 06009
see HEBREW for 01025
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Achor).
Combined with a.khor (עָכוֹר " of Achor" H5911)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Beracah).
Combined with be.ra.khah (בְּרָכָה " of Beracah" H1294H)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Elah).
Combined with e.lah (אֵלָה "Elah" H0425L)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Emek.
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Hebron).
Combined with chev.ron (חֶבְרוֹן " of Hebron" H2275H)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Topheth).
valley, vale, lowland, open country
Another name of to.phet (תֹּ֫פֶת "Topheth" H8612)
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Jezreel).
Combined with yiz.re.el (יִזְרְעֶאל " of Jezreel" H3157L)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
val'-i.
See VALE; VALLEY.
Valley
(1.) Heb. bik’ah, a “cleft” of the mountains (Deut. 8:7; 11:11; Ps. 104:8; Isa. 41:18); also a low plain bounded by mountains, as the plain of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon around the sources of the Jordan (Josh. 11:17; 12:7), and the valley of Megiddo (2 Chr. 35:22).
(2.) ‘Emek, “deep;” “a long, low plain” (Job 39:10, 21; Ps. 65:13; Cant. 2:1), such as the plain of Esdraelon; the “valley of giants” (
With respect to the general features of the Holy Land, see CANAAN; and for descriptions of some of its numerous valleys, see JERUSALEM, JEZREEL, JORDAN, REPHAIM, SHECHIEM, and SODOM. "The valley of the shadow of death," is an expression denoting an extremely perilous and cheerless condition of the soul, Ps 23:4, and may have been suggested by the psalmist’s experience with his flock in some of the deep, narrow, and dark ravines of Syria.
Thus the entrance to Petra is by long winding defile, between rugged precipices in some spots not more than twelve or fourteen feet apart and two or three hundred feet high, and almost excluding the light of day. See view in SELA. A similar pass south of mount Carmel is now known as the "Valley of Death-shade."