Joshua 18:25 — Word Study
WLCגִּבְע֥וֹן וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וּבְאֵרֽוֹת׃
BSAGibeonGibʻôwn [a Levitical city] RamahRâmâh [a city of battle] BeerothBᵉʼêrôwth [meaning 'wells', a Gibeonite city]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| גִּבְע֥וֹן | Gibeon | Noun proper |
| וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה | and Ramah | Conjunction, particle, noun proper |
| וּבְאֵרֽוֹת׃ | and Beeroth | Conjunction, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, |
| KJV | Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, |
| ASV | Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, |
| YLT | Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, |
| WEB | Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, |
| BBE | Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth |
The translations agree on the names of the cities listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a single main clause listing three cities, indicating a straightforward enumeration.
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 18:25
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 — Cities of Benjamingenerated
Joshua 18:25 lists Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth as part of the cities allocated to the tribe of Benjamin. These cities play a role in Israel's history, with Gibeon being a Levitical city and Ramah known for its battles. Beeroth, meaning 'wells', is also significant as a Gibeonite city. This passage contributes to the broader narrative of land distribution among the tribes of Israel, as seen in earlier chapters.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 9:17 | So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. |
| 2 | Joshua 10:2 | So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 3:4–5 | Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 9:2 | the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. |
| 5 | Isaiah 28:21 | For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גִּבְע֥וֹן, giv.'ongenerated
The name גִּבְע֥וֹן (giv.'on) refers to Gibeon, a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin. It is derived from a root meaning 'hilly', indicating its geographical features as a 'hill city'. Gibeon is located near modern 'el-Jib', about 5 miles from Jerusalem.
As a Levitical city, Gibeon held a special status within Israel, serving as a center for the Levitical priesthood. Its mention in this context highlights its importance in the distribution of cities among the tribes.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is examined in the Berean Standard Bible, which aligns closely with the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE in rendering the names of the cities without significant variation.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is straightforward, consisting of a list of three noun phrases: גִּבְע֥וֹן, וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה, and וּבְאֵרֽוֹת. This simple enumeration reflects the way cities were cataloged in ancient texts, emphasizing their significance in the land allocation narrative.
The use of conjunctions to link the cities shows a clear and organized presentation, typical of Hebrew prose in lists.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גִּבְע֥וֹן as γαβαων, וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה as ραμα, and וּבְאֵרֽוֹת as βεηρωθα. This choice of Greek words reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew names, maintaining their geographical significance.
The consistency between the Hebrew and the Greek suggests that the translators aimed to preserve the original meanings and contexts of these cities.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 18:25 lists three cities: Gibeon, a Levitical city; Ramah, a city known for battles; and Beeroth, which means 'wells' and is a Gibeonite city. These cities are part of the territory given to the tribe of Benjamin.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being a Levitical city means that Gibeon was designated for the Levites, who were responsible for religious duties and priestly functions in Israel.
Ramah's historical significance includes being a site of conflict, particularly between Israel and Syria, which is noted in various biblical accounts.
The name Beeroth reflects its geographical feature of having wells, which would have been vital for sustenance and settlement in ancient times.
These cities are part of the land distribution narrative in Joshua, showing how the land was allocated to the tribes of Israel after their conquest.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about the importance of cities in ancient Israel from this verse?
- How does the designation of Gibeon as a Levitical city affect our understanding of its role in Israel?
- What significance do you think the battles at Ramah had for the surrounding regions?
- In what ways can the geographical features of cities like Beeroth influence their historical importance?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 18:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleGibeon,.... Gibeon is the place from whence the Gibeonites came, who deceived Joshua, Joshua 9:3.
Read John Gill on Joshua 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryGibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, Gibeon - i:e., situated on a hill [Septuagint, Gabaoon] - one of the Hivite cities (see the note at Joshua 9:17). Ramah , [ wªhaa-Raamaah (H7414), the height; Septuagint, Rama].
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleZemaraim; which either gave name to, or took name from, that mountain, .
Read Matthew Poole on Joshua 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersTHE OF .(11-28) The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin.—It can have been by no accident that their lot came forth “between Judah and Joseph.” No wiser method could have been devised to secure an united Israel than thus to make Benjamin the link between the two most powerful and naturally rival tribes. In the story of Joseph, the brethren are reconciled through the mutual affection of Judah and Joseph for Benjamin as their father’s youngest and best-loved son. The position thus given to Benjamin under Joshua was still further developed by circumstances. The tribe was almost exterminated in the time of the judges; the survivors were united in marriage with women of Ephraim and…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 25. Gibeon] See before, Joshua 10:1-14. This place is famous for the confederacy of the five kings against Israel, and their miraculous defeat. Ramah, a place about six or eight miles north of Jerusalem. Beeroth, i.e., wells; one of the four cities which belonged to the Gibeonites, who made peace with the Israelites by stratagem. See Joshua 9:3-15.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges25. Gibeon] We have now enumerated the second group of fourteen cities lying on the west of Benjamin. 1. Gibeon, see note above, ch. Joshua 9:3; Joshua 2. Ramah, not the Ramah of Samuel or Ramathaim. In Isaiah 10:28-32, the king of Assyria is described as crossing the ravine at Michmash, and successively dislodging or alarming Geba, Ramah, and Gibeah of Saul. This Ramah is the modern er-Râm, a wretched village on an elevation. It was the place where Jeremiah was set free (Jeremiah 31:15; Jeremiah 40:1). It was inhabited again after the exile (Ez. 2:26; Nehemiah 7:30). 3. Beeroth, el-Bireh, mentioned above, Joshua 9:17, where see note. It belonged to or was in alliance with Gibeon. It was…
Read Cambridge on Joshua 18 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible25. Gibeon — See Joshua 9:3. Ramah is associated with many interesting incidents in the subsequent history of Israel. It is to be found in the modern er-Ram, six miles north of Jerusalem.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 18 →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
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Tyndale line
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth;
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Strictly literal
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
Gib'on, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
There were also the cities of Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
From the Latin
Gabam and Rama and Beroth,
Simplified
In addition: Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth
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 reads גִּבְע֥וֹן וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וּבְאֵרֽוֹת׃, and the Septuagint matches all three city names without variation. This agreement indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse across different textual traditions.
גִּבְע֥וֹן וְהָֽרָמָ֖ה וּבְאֵרֽוֹת׃
3 of the 3 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 18:25
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.
גִּבְעוֹן (Gib`own) refers to Gibeon, a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, described as a 'hill city.' It is located near modern 'el-Jib,' about 5 miles from Jerusalem. The word is derived from a root meaning 'hilly,' linking it to its geographical features.
גִּבְעוֹן n.pr.loc. Levitical city in tribe of Benjamin; cf. also as n.pr.m.
base
H1391 גִּבְעוֹן Levitical city in tribe of Benjamin
1391 Gib`own ghib-ohn'
from the same as 1387; hilly; Gibon, a place in
Palestine:--Gibeon.
see HEBREW for 01387
גִּבְעוֹן (giv.on) — Gibeon.
§ Gibeon = "hill city"
a Levitical city of Benjamin, modern 'el-Jib', which lies 5 miles or 8 km from Jerusalem
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
gib'-e-un (gibh`on): One of the royal cities of the Hivites (Jos 9:7). It was a greater city than Ai; and its inhabitants were reputed mighty men (Jos 10:2). It fell within the territory allotted to Benjamin (Jos 18:25), and was one of the cities given to the Levites (Jos 21:17).
1. The Gibeonites:
By a stratagem the Gibeonites secured for themselves and their allies in Chephirah, Beeroth and Kirjath-jearim immunity from attack by the Israelites. Terrified by the fate of Jericho and Ai, a company disguised as ambassadors from a far country, their garments and shoes worn, and their provisions moldy as from the length of their journey, went to Joshua at Gilgal, and persuaded…
Gibeon
Hill-city, “one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty” (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17). Here the tabernacle was set up after the destruction of Nob, and here it remained many years till the temple was built by Solomon. It is represented by the modern el-Jib, to the south-west of Ai, and about 5 1/2 miles north-north-west of Jerusalem.
A deputation of the Gibeonites, with their allies from three other cities (Josh. 9;17), visited the camp at Gilgal, and by false representations induced Joshua to enter into a league with them, although the Israelites had been specially warned against any league with the inhabitants of Canaan (Ex. 23:32…
(hill city), one of the four , cities of the Hivites, the inhabitants of which made a league with Joshua, (Joshua 9:3-15) and thus escaped the fate of Jericho and Ai. Comp. ch. (Joshua 11:19) Gibeon lay within the territory of Benjamin, ch. (Joshua 18:25) and with its "suburbs" was allotted to the priests, ch. (Joshua 21:17) of whom it became afterwards a principal station. It retains its ancient name almost intact, el-Jib . Its distance from Jerusalem by the main road is about 6 1/2 miles; but there is a more direct road reducing it to five miles.
A considerable city of the Hivites, afterwards a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25 21:17. It lay near Geba and Gibeah, and is sometimes wrongly taken for Geba. Its Canaanite inhabitants secured a treaty with Joshua and the elders of Israel by strategem, and were made hewers of wood for the sanctuary. Five neighboring kings unitedly fell upon them; but were defeated by the Jews in a great battle, during which "the sun stood still upon Gibeon," Jos 9:10. Here the tabernacle was set up for many years, 1Ch 16:39 21:29 2Ch 1:3,4; and here god communed by night with young king Solomon, 1Ki 3:4-15. It is also…
רָמָה (Ramah) means 'the Height' or 'hill' and refers to several locations in ancient Palestine, including a fortified city in Naphtali and a town in Benjamin near Gibeah. It is associated with the Benjamites after their return from captivity and is mentioned in the context of battles, such as between Israel and Syria. The lexicons note various geographical references but do not present significant disagreement.
רָמָה n.pr.loc. the Height, Rama
in Benj., on border of Ephr.
in hill-country of Ephr. (= 1 ?), home of Samuel
in Asher
in Naphtali
2 K 8:29
base
H7414 רָמָה the Height, Rama
7414 Ramah raw-maw'
the same as 7413; Ramah, the name of four places in
Palestine:--Ramah.
see HEBREW for 07413
רָמָה (ra.mah) — Ramah.
Ramah = "hill"
a place rehabited by the Benjamites after the return from captivity
Also named: Rhama (Ῥαμᾶ "Ramah" G4471)
רָמָה (ra.mah) — Ramah.
§ Ramah = "hill"
landmark on the boundary of Asher, apparently between Tyre and Zidon
רָמָה (ra.mah) — Ramah.
§ Ramah = "hill"
a fortified city in Naphtali
רָמָה (ra.mah) — Ramah.
Ramah = "hill"
a town in Benjamin on the border of Ephraim about 5 miles (8 km) from Jerusalem and near to Gibeah
Another name of mits.pah (מִצְפָּה "Mizpah" H4709G)
רָמָה (ra.mah) — Ramah.
Ramah = "hill"
a place of battle between Israel and Syria
Another name of ra.mot gi.l.ad (רָמֹת "Ramoth" H7433)
Conj | Art | N-proper — Conjunction · particle · noun properHC/Td/Npl
ra'-ma (ha-ramah, without the definite article only in Ne 11:33; Jer 31:15): The name denotes height, from root rum, "to be high," and the towns to which it applied seem all to have stood on elevated sites.
(1) Codex Vaticanus Arael; Codex Alexandrinus Rhama: A fenced city in the lot assigned to Naphtali (Jos 19:36). Only in this passage is the place referred to. It is probably identical with the modern er-Rameh, a large Christian village on the highway from Cafed to the coast, about 8 miles West-Southwest of that city. To the North rises the mountain range which forms the southern boundary of Upper Galilee. In the valley to the South there is much rich land cultivated by the villagers. The olives grown here are very fine…
(a hill). This is the name of several places in the holy land. One of the cities of the allotment of Benjamin. (Joshua 18:25) Its site is at er-Ram , about five miles from Jerusalem, and near to Gibeah. (Judges 4:5; 19:13; 1 Samuel 22:6) Its people returned after the captivity. (Ezra 2:26; Nehemiah 7:30) The home of Elkanah, Samuel’s father, (1 Samuel 1:19; 2:11) the birthplace of Samuel himself, his home and official residence, the site of his altar ch. (1 Samuel 7:17; 8:4; 15:34; 16:13; 19:18) and finally his…
Plural RAMOTH, an eminence; and hence many places in Palestine are named Ramah, Ramath, Ramath, Ramathaim, etc. Sometimes the same place is called by one or other of these names indiscriminately, all signifying the same, 2Ki 8:28,29. Sometimes Rama, Or Ramoth, is joined to another name, to determine the place of such city or eminence; and it is sometimes put simply for a high place, and signifies neither city nor village.
1. The principal Ramah was a city of Benjamin, near Gibeah, towards the mountains of Ephraim, six miles from Jerusalem north, and on the road from Samaria to Jerusalem, Jos 18:25 Jud 19:13 Ne 11:33. It was near the border line between Judah and Israel…
same as Ram
בְאֵרוֹת (be'eroth) is a feminine plural form meaning 'wells.' It refers specifically to Beeroth, a city of the Gibeonites that was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. The lexicons identify it as a geographical location in Palestine, indicating its significance in the Old Testament.
בְאֵרוֹת n.pr.loc. city of Gibeonites
base
H881 בְאֵרוֹת
881 B'erowth be-ay-rohth'
feminine plural of 875; wells; Beeroth, a place in
Palestine:--Beeroth.
see HEBREW for 0875
בְּאֵרוֹת (be.e.rot) — Beeroth.
§ Beeroth = "wells"
a Gibeonite city allotted to Benjamin
בְּאֵרוֹת (be.e.rot) — Beeroth-(bene-jaakan).
Beeroth = "wells"
a Gibeonite city allotted to Benjamin
Combined with be.ne ya.a.qan (בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן "Bene-jaakan" H1142)
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
be-e'-roth, be'-er-oth (be'eroth; Beroth): One of the cities of the Canaanites whose inhabitants succeeded in deceiving Israel, and in making a covenant with them (Jos 9:3 ff). Apparently they were Hivites (Jos 9:7). The occasion on which the Beerothites fled to Gittaim where they preserved their communal identity is not indicated. The town was reckoned to Benjamin (2Sa 4:2 f). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it under Gibeon, 7 Roman miles from Jerusalem on the way to Nicopolis (Amwas). If we follow the old road by way of Gibeon (el-Jib) and Bethhoron, Beeroth would lie probably to the Northwest of el-Jib. The traditional identification is with el-Bireh, about 8 miles from Jerusalem on the great north road. If the order in which the…
Beeroth
Wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud into a league with Joshua. It belonged to Benjamin (Josh. 18:25). It has by some been identified with el-Bireh on the way to Nablus, 10 miles north of Jerusalem.
(wells), one of the four cities of the Hivites who deluded Joshua into a treaty of peace with them. (Joshua 9:17) It is now el-Bireh , which stands about 10 miles north of Jerusalem.
wells; explaining