The Hebrew word Bêyth ʻAzmâveth, represented by H1041, is a proper name for a location. Its base definition, derived from בַּיִת and עַזְמָוֶת, is house of Azmaveth, identifying it as a place in Palestine. According to usage statistics, this name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible.
The single biblical reference to H1041 occurs in a list documenting groups of people. In Nehemiah 7:28, the text records a specific number of men associated with this location, stating, "The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two." This places H1041 within a census-like context, where its primary function is to serve as a geographical identifier for a specific contingent of people.
Several related words are used in the verse that mentions Bethazmaveth, providing the context for its sole appearance:
- H582 ʼĕnôwsh (men): Defined as a mortal or a man in general, this word specifies who was being counted from Bethazmaveth Nehemiah 7:28.
- H705 ʼarbâʻîym (forty): Meaning forty, this word provides the base number for the count of men from the location Nehemiah 7:28.
- H8147 shᵉnayim (two): Meaning two, this word completes the tally of the men associated with Bethazmaveth, bringing the total to forty-two Nehemiah 7:28.
While H1041 itself is a geographical name, the terms used to describe it in its only appearance carry broader biblical themes.
- The Human Element: The use of men H582 grounds the location in the context of human affairs. This word is used elsewhere to contrast mortal man with God 2 Chronicles 14:11 and to reflect on humanity's frailty Isaiah 51:12.
- A Number of Testing: The number forty H705 appears frequently in scripture to denote periods of trial or significant duration, such as the forty years the Israelites were led through the wilderness to humble them Deuteronomy 8:2 or the forty years of rest for the land Judges 5:31.
- A Precise Count: The number two H8147 finalizes the census figure. This term is often used to represent division, duality, or partnership, as seen in the "two nations" in Rebecca's womb Genesis 25:23 or the exhortation that "two are better than one" Ecclesiastes 4:9.
In summary, H1041 Bêyth ʻAzmâveth is the name of a town in Palestine mentioned once in scripture. Its significance is tied entirely to its appearance in Nehemiah, where it is listed as the home of forty-two men. While the name itself does not carry explicit theological weight, the words used to quantify its people connect this simple geographical reference to larger biblical concepts of humanity, numerical symbolism, and divine accounting.
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