by permutation for גִּבְעָה; a hill; Giba, a place in Palestine; Gibeah.
Transliteration:Gibʻâʼ
Pronunciation:ghib-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The lemma גִּבְעָא (Gibʻâʼ), Strong's `{{H1388}}`, is a proper noun referring to a specific place. Its etymological root is גִּבְעָה (gibʻah) `{{H1389}}`, which means "hill" or "height." Therefore, the core meaning of גִּבְעָא is intrinsically linked to its topographical feature: a settlement situated on a hill. As a toponym, its semantic range is limited to designating specific locations in ancient Palestine that bore this name, primarily known for their elevated positions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
גִּבְעָא (Gibʻâʼ) appears numerous times in the Hebrew Bible, predominantly referring to two distinct geographical locations:
1. **Gibeah of Benjamin:** This is the most significant and frequently mentioned location.
* It is identified as a city within the tribal allotment of Benjamin ([[Joshua 18:28]]).
* Most notably, Gibeah of Benjamin is the setting for the horrific account in [[Judges 19]], where the egregious sin of its inhabitants against a Levite's concubine sparks a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin ([[Judges 20]]). This narrative vividly portrays the moral degradation in Israel during the period of the Judges.
* It is also famously known as the hometown of Israel's first king, Saul ([[1 Samuel 10:26]], [[1 Samuel 11:4]]). It is sometimes referred to as "Gibeah of Saul" ([[1 Samuel 11:4]], [[Isaiah 10:29]]), emphasizing its connection to the early monarchy.
* Prophetic references to Gibeah, particularly in [[Hosea 5:8]] and [[Isaiah 10:29]], often allude to its strategic importance and its role as a place associated with military alarm or impending judgment for Israel.
2. **Gibeah in Judah:** Less prominent, this Gibeah is listed among the cities in the inheritance of the tribe of Judah ([[Joshua 15:57]]). Its mention serves to distinguish it from the more infamous Benjaminite Gibeah.
In all contexts, the name גִּבְעָא underscores the elevated nature of the settlement, a characteristic that often contributed to its strategic or military significance. The narratives surrounding Gibeah of Benjamin, in particular, highlight themes of societal breakdown and divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
* גִּבְעָה (gibʻah) `{{H1389}}`: This is the direct root from which גִּבְעָא is derived. Understanding `{{H1389}}` as "hill" provides the literal geographical meaning inherent in the place name.
* הַר (har) `{{H2022}}`: A more general term for "mountain" or "mountain range," contrasting with the more specific "hill" (gibʻah) that גִּבְעָא denotes.
* **Toponymy:** The study of place names. גִּבְעָא is a prime example of a biblical toponym that directly describes the physical characteristic of the location, often influencing its role in historical events.
* **The Judges Period:** The events at Gibeah in [[Judges 19]] and [[Judges 20]] are emblematic of the moral anarchy described in the book of Judges, where "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([[Judges 21:25]]).
* **The Monarchy:** As Saul's hometown, Gibeah is integrally linked to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy and the subsequent narratives of Saul's reign, including his successes and ultimate failures.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of גִּבְעָא (Gibʻâʼ) is profoundly shaped by the narratives in which it features, particularly those concerning Gibeah of Benjamin.
* **A Symbol of Moral Depravity and Apostasy:** The horrific events detailed in [[Judges 19]] and [[Judges 20]] transform Gibeah into a powerful symbol of the depths of human sin and the spiritual decay within Israel during the Judges period. The collective wickedness of the men of Gibeah, likened to the sin of Sodom, illustrates the severe consequences of rejecting divine law and moral order. It serves as a stark warning against unchecked lust, violence, and the breakdown of societal norms when God's authority is ignored.
* **The Catalyst for Divine Judgment and National Cleansing:** The subsequent civil war, initiated by the outrage over the Gibeah incident, resulted in the near-annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. This catastrophic event underscores the severity of God's judgment against profound sin and the painful process of national cleansing required to restore a semblance of righteousness.
* **The Paradox of God's Sovereignty:** That God would choose Israel's first king, Saul, from a place so deeply stained by sin, presents a theological paradox. It can be interpreted as God's sovereign choice to work through imperfect means and individuals, or perhaps as a subtle foreshadowing of the eventual failures of Saul's own reign, which would mirror the moral corruption that had afflicted his hometown.
* **Prophetic Warning:** Later prophetic references to Gibeah ([[Hosea 5:8]], [[Isaiah 10:29]]) often evoke its history as a place of distress and judgment, serving as a reminder of God's ongoing scrutiny of His people and the inevitable consequences of disobedience.
### Summary
The word גִּבְעָא (Gibʻâʼ), Strong's `{{H1388}}`, is a proper noun designating a place named "Gibeah," derived from the Hebrew word for "hill" (גִּבְעָה `{{H1389}}`). While a Gibeah existed in Judah, the most significant biblical references pertain to Gibeah of Benjamin. This city is infamous as the site of the heinous crime in [[Judges 19]] that precipitated a devastating civil war against the tribe of Benjamin ([[Judges 20]]). Furthermore, it is renowned as the hometown of King Saul, Israel's first monarch. Theologically, Gibeah stands as a potent symbol of moral depravity, unchecked sin, and the severe consequences of societal and spiritual decay. Its narrative serves as a stark reminder of the necessity of divine judgment and the painful process of national cleansing, while also subtly linking to the complexities of God's sovereign choice in establishing the monarchy from such a morally compromised locale.
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