1 Kings 12:25 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּ֨בֶן יָרָבְעָ֧ם אֶת־ שְׁכֶ֛ם בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּ֑הּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־ פְּנוּאֵֽל׃
BSAThen JeroboamYârobʻâm [the people will contend] builtbânâh▸ [established, constructed] ShechemShᵉkem [a city in Palestine] in the hill countryhar [mountainous region] of EphraimʼEphrayim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] and lived thereyâshab▸ [dwelt, resided, in that place] thereshâm [that location, thence] he went outyâtsâʼ▸ [came forth, departed] and builtbânâh▸ [constructed, established] PenuelPᵉnûwʼêl [facing God, a place of divine encounter]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּ֨בֶן | and he built | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| יָרָבְעָ֧ם | Jeroboam | Noun proper masculine |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| שְׁכֶ֛ם | Shechem | Noun proper |
| בְּהַ֥ר | in [the] hill country of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| אֶפְרַ֖יִם | Ephraim | Noun proper masculine |
| וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב | and he dwelt | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בָּ֑הּ | in it | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיֵּצֵ֣א | and he went out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| מִשָּׁ֔ם | from there | Preposition, adverb |
| וַיִּ֖בֶן | and he built | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| פְּנוּאֵֽל׃ | Penuel | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel. |
| KJV | ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. |
| ASV | Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel. |
| YLT | And Jeroboam buildeth Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelleth in it, and goeth out thence, and buildeth Penuel; |
| WEB | Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel. |
| BBE | Then Jeroboam made the town of Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim a strong place, and was living there; and from there he went out and did the same to Penuel. |
The translations agree on the basic meaning of Jeroboam's actions in building Shechem and Penuel.
The sentence consists of two main actions connected by conjunctions, illustrating Jeroboam's sequential activities.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיָרָבְעָם
verbבָּנָה
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 — 1 Kings 12:25
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 — The Reign of Jeroboamgenerated
1 Kings 12:25 describes Jeroboam's strategic moves after the kingdom split, where he built Shechem as a capital in Ephraim and later Penuel. This action reflects his efforts to secure his reign and establish a stronghold for the northern tribes of Israel. The context shows the political and spiritual challenges Jeroboam faced as he sought to lead the people away from Jerusalem's influence.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 9:15–17 | This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 15:17 | Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 16:24 | He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there, calling it Samaria after the name of Shemer, who had owned the hill. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 11:5–12 | Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. |
| 5 | 1 Kings 12:1 | Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּנָה, vai.Yi.vengenerated
The verb בָּנָה (banah) means 'to build' and encompasses a range of meanings, including establishing or constructing. It signifies not only physical structures but also the act of creating a lasting presence, such as a family or community.
In this verse, Jeroboam's use of בָּנָה indicates his intention to establish a new political center, emphasizing the importance of Shechem in the northern kingdom. The parsing as a sequential imperfect verb shows that this action is part of an ongoing narrative, highlighting the significance of his leadership decisions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יִּ֨בֶן (he built) governs the sentence, with several phrases detailing what he built and where. The structure emphasizes Jeroboam's actions sequentially — first building Shechem, then dwelling there, and finally going out to build Penuel.
The sentence flows from the main action of building to the subsequent actions of dwelling and departing, illustrating a clear progression in Jeroboam's establishment of his rule.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּנָה as ᾠκοδόμησεν (oikodomēsen), which means 'he built' and carries the same connotation of establishing a structure. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but reflects the Greek language's emphasis on construction.
This translation choice shows continuity in the understanding of Jeroboam's actions, maintaining the focus on his role as a builder of a new kingdom.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 12:25 tells us that Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He then went out and built Penuel. This shows Jeroboam's efforts to establish his authority and create a stronghold for the northern kingdom of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jeroboam's building of Shechem signifies his intent to establish a new political center for the northern kingdom of Israel, marking a shift in leadership after the division from Judah.
Shechem is significant in biblical history as a central location for the tribes of Israel, often associated with covenantal events and leadership decisions.
The division of the kingdom occurred after Solomon's reign, driven by heavy taxation and discontent among the tribes, leading to Jeroboam's rise as king of the northern tribes.
Jeroboam's reign set a precedent for the northern kingdom's governance and introduced practices that would influence Israel's spiritual trajectory, including idolatry.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I establish a strong foundation in my own life, similar to Jeroboam's actions in Shechem?
- What are the implications of leadership decisions in my community or family?
- How can I learn from Jeroboam's choices to avoid pitfalls in my own leadership?
- What does it mean to create a lasting impact in my environment, as Jeroboam sought to do?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers comment on the division of the kingdom and the role of Jeroboam. Their quotations highlight the historical significance of this event.
The people were divided in those times into the kingdom of ten tribes under Jeroboam and the kingdom of two tribes under Rehoboam. And those under Jeroboam were called Israel, and those under Rehoboam Judah.Early Church Fathers on 1 Kings 12 →
The Scriptures tell us that God chose a certain nation on the earth, which they call by several names. For the whole of this nation is termed Israel and also Jacob.Early Church Fathers on 1 Kings 12 →
We have learned in the books of Kings that under Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, made a division among the people and led ten tribes into Samaria.Early Church Fathers on 1 Kings 12 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 12:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein,.... Not that this city had lain in ruins from the times of Abimelech, Jude 9:45 for then it would not have been a proper place for the
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. Jeroboam built Shechem - destroyed by Abimelech (Judges 9:1-49).
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 12 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleJeroboam built Shechem, i.e. he repaired, and enlarged, and fortified it; for it had been ruined long since, . He might choose it as a place both auspicious, because here the foundation of his monarchy was laid; and commodious, as being near the frontiers of his kingdom. Penuel; a place beyond Jordan; of which see ; to secure that part of his dominions.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 12 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.Ver. 25. Then Jeroboam built Shechem.] Shechem had been ruined and sowed with salt, it had been rebuilt, but now made a royal city, as being in meditullio regni, in the middle of the kingdom: as Constantinople, for its situation, is said to be a city fatally founded, to command a great part of the world. And built Penuel.] Beyond Jordan, to be a bulwark there. Turk. Hist.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(25) Jeroboam built Shechem.—Shechem had passed through many vicissitudes of fortune. It was already a city when Abraham entered the Promised Land (Genesis 12:6), and is from time to time mentioned in the patriarchal history (Genesis 33:18, Genesis 35:4, Genesis 37:12-13). At the Conquest it became a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:20-21), and the scene of the solemn recital of the blessings and curses of the Law (Joshua 8:33-35). From its proximity to Shiloh, and to the inheritance of Joshua, it assumed something of the character of a capital (Joshua 24:1; Joshua 24:32). Then it became the seat of the usurpation of Abimelech, which allied itself with the native inhabitants of the…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges25–33. Jeroboam sets up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, and thus makes Israel to Sin (Not in 2 Chron) 25. built Shechem] i.e. Strengthened it by walls and made it thus fit to be the royal residence, ‘the political centre of a confederation whose military leader bore the title of king.’ It had in early days been a strong town with gates, but was overthrown by Abimelech (see Judges 9:4-5). For ‘mount Ephraim’ here, we should rather read as elsewhere, with R.V., ‘the hill country of Ephraim.’ Penuel] This place was in the country of Gilead, on the east of the Jordan. When Gideon (Judges 8:8) in his pursuit after the Midianites crossed from the west side to the east of the Jordan, the first…
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 12 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBuilt Shechem - In the sense of “enlarged and fortified.” See Daniel 4:30. The first intention of Jeroboam seems to have been to make Shechem his capital, and therefore he immediately set about its fortification.
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible’S WORKS AND , 1 Kings 12:25-33. 25. Built Shechem — Enlarged and fortified it for a royal residence. Dwelt therein — Not exclusively, for in 1 Kings 14:17, we find him dwelling at Tirzah.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 12 →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
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.
Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel.
Tyndale line
¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt in it, and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Then Ieroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein, and went from thence, and built Penuel.
Strictly literal
And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
And Jeroboam buildeth Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelleth in it, and goeth out thence, and buildeth Penuel;
And Jeroboam builds Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwells in it, and goes out there, and builds Penuel;
And Jerobo'am built Shechem in the mountain of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from there and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. He went out from there and built Peniel.
From the Latin
And Jeroboam built Sichem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt there, and going out from thence he built Phanuel.
Simplified
Jeroboam strengthened the town of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam made the town of Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim a strong place, and was living there; and from there he went out and did the same to Penuel.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree on the content of 1 Kings 12:25, with the Septuagint matching 9 of the 13 words from the Hebrew text. The differences in word order and articles reflect the distinct grammatical structures of the two languages but do not alter the fundamental meaning.
וַיִּ֨בֶן יָרָבְעָ֧ם אֶת־ שְׁכֶ֛ם בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּ֑הּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־ פְּנוּאֵֽל׃
9 of the 13 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 1 Kings 12:25
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.
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.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
יָֽרָבְעָם (Yarob`am) refers to Jeroboam, a name associated with two kings of Israel. The name means 'the people will contend' and is linked to the first king of the northern kingdom after its split from Judah, as well as the eighth king from the dynasty of Jehu. The entries consistently highlight his role in introducing idolatry and maintaining the kingdom's borders.
יָֽרָבְעָם 104 n.pr.m. Jeroboam
90 leader of revolt of N. Isr. (10th cent.), and first king
son of Jehoash of N. Isr. (8th cent.) and 13th king
base
H3379 יָֽרָבְעָם
3379 Yarob`am yaw-rob-awm'
from 7378 and 5971; (the) people will contend; Jarobam, the
name of two Israelite kings:--Jeroboam.
see HEBREW for 07378
see HEBREW for 05971
יָֽרָבְעָם (ya.rov.am) — Jeroboam.
A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.26;
son of: Nebat (H5028) and Zeruah (H6871);
father of: Abijah (H0029H), Nadab (H5070H)
§ Jeroboam = "the people will contend"
1) the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the death of Solomon and the 10 tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin and the kingdom under Solomon's son Rehoboam; idolatry was introduced at the beginning of his reign
2) the 8th king of the northern kingdom of Israel, son of Joash, and 4th in the dynasty of Jehu; during his reign the Syrian invaders were repelled and the kingdom restored to its former borders but the idolatry of the kingdom was maintained
יָֽרָבְעָם (ya.rov.am) — Jeroboam.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
jer-o-bo'-am (yarobh`am; Septuagint Hieroboam, usually assumed to have been derived from riyb and `am, and signifying "the people contend," or, "he pleads the people's cause"): The name was borne by two kings of Israel.
(1) Jeroboam I, son of Nebat, an Ephraimite, and of Zeruah, a widow (1Ki 11:26-40; 12-14:20). He was the first king of Israel after the disruption of the kingdom, and he reigned 22 years (937-915 BC).
I. Jeroboam I
1. Sources:
The history of Jeroboam is contained in 1Ki 11:26-40; 12:1-14:20; 2Ch 10:1-11:4; 11:14-16; 12:15; 13:3-20, and in an insertion in the Septuagint after 1Ki 12:24 (a-z). This insertion covers about the same ground as the Massoretic Text…
Jeroboam
Increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26-39), “an Ephrathite,” the first king of the ten tribes, over whom he reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 976-945). He was the son of a widow of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the “burnden”, i.e., of the bands of forced labourers. Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the ten tribes; but these having been discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a length of time under the protection of Shishak I. On the death of Solomon, the ten tribes, having revolted, sent to invite him to become their king. The conduct of Rehoboam favoured the designs of Jeroboam, and he was…
(whose people are many). The first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, B.C. 975-954, was the son of an Ephraimite of the name of Nebat. He was raised by Solomon to the rank of superintendent over the taxes and labors exacted from the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Kings 11:28) he made the most of his position, and at last was perceived by Solomon to be aiming at the monarchy. He was leaving Jerusalem, when he was met by Ahijah the prophet, who gave him the assurance that, on condition of obedience to his laws, God would establish for him a kingdom and dynasty equal to that of David. (1 Kings 11:29-40) The attempts of Solomon to cut short Jeroboam’s designs occasioned his flight into Egypt. There he remained until Solomon’s death. After a year’s longer stay in Egypt, during which…
The first king of Israel, an Ephraimite, the son of Nebat. During the latter part of Solomon’s reign, and while an officer under him, he plotted against him, and was obliged to flee into Egypt. On the death of Solomon, he was summoned by the ten tribes to return and present their demands to Rehoboam; and when these were refused, he was chosen king of the revolted tribes, B. C. 975. He reigned twentytwo years. The only notable act of his reign marked him with infamy, as the man "who made Israel to sin." It was the idolatrous establishment of golden calves at Bethel and Dan that the people might worship there and not at Jerusalem. He also superseded the sons of Aaron by priests chosen from "the lowest of the people." This unprincipled but effective measure, in which he was followed by all the kings of Israel, was a confession of weakness as well as of depravity. Neither miracles nor…
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
שְׁכֶם (shekhem) refers to both a city in northern Palestine and a man, the son of Hamor, mentioned in the context of the Patriarchs. The name is associated with meanings like 'back' or 'shoulder.' The city is located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, significant in biblical narratives.
שְׁכֶם n.pr.loc. 49 et m. 14
district in N. Palestine
n.pr.m. ‘son’ of Hamor
base
H7927 שְׁכֶם . district in N. Palestine
. ‘son’ of Hamor
7927 Shkem shek-em'
the same as 7926; ridge; Shekem, a place in
Palestine:--Shechem.
see HEBREW for 07926
שְׁכֶם (she.khem) — Shechem.
Shechem = "back" or "shoulder"
a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) south- east of Samaria
Also named: Suchem (Συχέμ "Shechem" G4966)
שְׁכֶם (she.khem) — Shechem.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.33.19;
son of: Hamor (H2544)
§ Shechem = "back" or "shoulder"
1) son of Hamor, the chieftain of the Hivites at Shechem at the time of Jacob's arrival
2) a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) south- east of Samaria
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Ge 12:6; and "Sychem" in Ac 7:16):
1. Historical:
This place is first mentioned in connection with Abraham's journey from Haran. At the oak of Moreh in the vicinity he reared his first altar to the Lord in Palestine (Ge 12:6 f). It was doubtless by this oak that Jacob, on his return from Paddan-aram, buried "the strange (the American Standard Revised Version "foreign") gods" (Ge 35:4). Hither he had come after his meeting with Esau (Ge 33:18). Eusebius, in Onomasticon, here identifies Shechem with Shalem; but see…
Shechem
Shoulder. (1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Gen. 33:19; 34).
(2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Josh. 17:2).
(3.) A city in Samaria (Gen. 33:18), called also Sichem (12:6), Sychem (Acts 7:16). It stood in the narrow sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Gen. 12:6, 7). Here also Jacob “bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the children of…
(back or shoulder). An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus , is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. On coins still extant it is called Flavia Neapolis. The situation of the town is one of surpassing beauty. It lies in a sheltered valley, protected by Gerizim on the south and Ebal on the north. The feet of these mountains, where they rise from the town, are not more than five hundred yards apart. The bottom of the valley is about 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and the top of Gerizim 800 feet higher still. The sit of the present city, which was also that of the Hebrew city, occurs exactly on the water-summit; and streams issuing from the numerous springs there flow down the…
1. A Canaanite prince, at the town of the same name, who abducted Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and was soon afterwards treacherously slain, with many of his people, by Simeon and Levi, Ge 34:1-31.
2. A city of central Canaan, between the mountains Gerizim and Ebal, thirty-four miles north of Jerusalem; called also Sychar and Sychem, Ac 7:16. It is first mentioned in the history of Abraham, who here erected his first altar in Canaan, and took possession of the country in the name of Jehovah, Ge 12:6 33:18,19 35:4. Jacob bought a field in its neighborhood, which by way of overplus, he gave to his son Joseph, who was buried here, Ge 48:22
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…
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (Ephrayim) refers to Ephraim, a son of Joseph and Asenath, and the tribe descended from him. The term signifies 'double fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including a geographical region, a chief gate of Jerusalem, and a reference to the northern kingdom. Notably, it appears in Genesis 41:52.
אֶפְרַ֫יִם n.pr.m. Ephraim
base
H669 אֶפְרַ֫יִם Ephraim
669 'Ephrayim ef-rah'-yim
dual of masculine form of 672; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son
of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its
territory:--Ephraim, Ephraimites.
see HEBREW for 0672
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.52;
son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);
brother of: Manasseh (H4519);
father of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H); also called Ephrathite (NIV: Ephraimite) at 1Sa.1.1; Ephron (Qere, KJV: Ephrain) at 2Ch.13.19;
§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh
2) the tribe, Ephraim
3) the mountain country of Ephraim
4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)
5) a city near Baal-hazor
6) a chief gate of Jerusalem
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim (Gate).
§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
a chief gate of Jerusalem
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Ephraim
Double fruitfulness (“for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction”). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, “guiding his hands wittingly.” Before Joseph’s death, Ephraim’s family had reached the third generation (Gen. 50:23).
a city "in the district near the wilderness" to which our Lord retired with his disciples when threatened with violence by the priests. (John 11:54)
The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt, Ge 41:52. Although the youngest, he yet had the chief blessing of his grandfather Jacob, and the tribe was always more distinguished than that of Manasseh, Ge 48:8-20 Nu 2:18-21. The portion of Ephraim was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim…
fruitful; increasing
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'.
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
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
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.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
הָ (ha) — her.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3fs
יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
go or come out or forth
from (מִן) a place
go forth from (the presence of) a person
in technical senses
of flight, involving escape
depart
of inanimate things
with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
of children as going forth from loins (of father)
go forth to a place
go forward, proceed to or toward something
come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
of combinations
Hiph.
cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
bring out animals
inanimate obj.
fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
base
H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place
. go forth from (the presence of) a person
. in technical senses
. of flight, involving escape
. depart
. of inanimate things
. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
. . go forth to a place
. go forward, proceed to or toward something
. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
. of combinations
. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
. bring out animals
. inanimate obj.
. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
. be brought forth
3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great
variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct
and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X
begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come
(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,
depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,
fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,
out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),
going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,
lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X
scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring
out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any
time, X to (and fro), utter.
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.
: come/go_out/escape
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.
: send/take_out/release
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.
שָׁם adv. there, thither
base
H8033 שָׁם there, thither
8033 sham shawm
a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or
thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +
thither, + whither.
see HEBREW for 0834
שָׁם (sham) — there.
1) there, thither
1a) there
1b) thither (after verbs of motion)
1c) from there, thence
1d) then (as an adverb of time)
Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
This name means there, thither
Prep | Adv — Preposition · adverbHR/D
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.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
פְּנוּאֵל (Pnuw'el) means 'face of God' and refers to both a location east of the Jordan River, named by Jacob after wrestling with God, and to several individuals from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The entries note that Penuel and Peniel are interchangeable terms, emphasizing the connection to divine encounters.
פְּנוּאֵל n.pr. (face of God)
loc. E. of Jordan, near Jabboḳ
m.
in Judah
in Benjamin
base
H6439 פְּנוּאֵל (face of God)
6439 Pnuw'el pen-oo-ale'
or (more properly,) Pniylel {pen-oo-ale'}; from 6437 and 410;
face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also
(as Penuel) the name of two Israelites:--Peniel, Penuel.
see HEBREW for 06437
see HEBREW for 0410
פְּנוּאֵל (pe.nu.el) — Peniel.
§ Penuel or Peniel = "facing God"
the place named by Jacob when he wrestled with God and located on the north bank of the Jabbok close to the Jordan
פְּנוּאֵל (pe.nu.el) — Penuel.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.4;
son of: Hur (H2354);
brother of: Uri (H0221), Shobal (H7732H), Salma (H8007H), Hareph (H2780), Jezreel (H3157J), Ishma (H3457), Idbash (H3031), Hazzelelponi (H6753) and Ezer (H5829)
§ Penuel or Peniel = "facing God"
1) a Benjamite, son of Shashak, brother of Iphedeiah of the family of Saul
2) son of Hur, father of Gedor, and a descendant of Judah
3) the place named by Jacob when he wrestled with God and located on the north bank of the Jabbok close to the Jordan
פְּנוּאֵל (pe.nu.el) — Penuel.
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
pe-nu'-el, pen'-u-el.
See PENIEL.
Penuel
Face of God, a place not far from Succoth, on the east of the Jordan and north of the river Jabbok. It is also called “Peniel.” Here Jacob wrestled (Gen. 32:24-32) “with a man” (“the angel”, Hos. 12:4. Jacob says of him, “I have seen God face to face”) “till the break of day.”
A town was afterwards built there (Judg. 8:8; 1 Kings 12:25). The men of this place refused to succour Gideon and his little army when they were in pursuit of the Midianites (Judg. 8:1-21). On his return, Gideon slew the men of this city and razed its lofty watch-tower to the ground.
[PENIEL]
same as Peniel