### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Gibʻâʼ**, represented by `{{H1388}}`, is a proper name for a place in Palestine, defined as **Gibeah**. Derived from a term for "a hill," it is a highly specific geographical reference. It appears **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible, indicating its role is not as a common noun but as a unique location.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H1388}}` is found within a detailed genealogical listing in the book of Chronicles. The verse states, "...and the father of **Gibea**..." [[1 Chronicles 2:49]]. This places the name within the lineage of Caleb, where a descendant is identified as the "father" or founder of this location. The context is purely historical and ancestral, serving to document the heritage and territorial claims of a specific family line.
### Related Words & Concepts
The verse where `{{H1388}}` appears connects it to other foundational Hebrew words:
* `{{H1}}` **'ʼâb'** (father): This word is used three times in the same verse to establish patriarchal lineage, identifying the founders of Madmannah, Machbenah, and **Gibea** [[1 Chronicles 2:49]]. It signifies a person's role as a chief or progenitor.
* `{{H3205}}` **'yâlad'** (to bear young): The passage begins with "She **bare**{H3205} also Shaaph...," setting the context of birth and procreation for the entire genealogical record that includes the founding of **Gibea** [[1 Chronicles 2:49]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1388}}` is derived entirely from its context within biblical genealogy.
* **Establishing Heritage:** Its use in the phrase "the father of **Gibea**" highlights the importance of recording lineage and the founding of communities as part of Israel's sacred history [[1 Chronicles 2:49]].
* **Historical Record:** The mention of **Gibea** serves as a marker in the meticulous accounting of Caleb's descendants. This demonstrates a theological value placed on preserving the specific history and territorial inheritance of the tribes of Israel.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1388}}` is a proper noun for the place **Gibea**. Its sole mention in scripture is not for its geographical features but for its role in a genealogical list. The name functions as a historical anchor, linking a specific person in the line of Caleb to the founding of a town, thereby underscoring the biblical emphasis on heritage, lineage, and the preservation of ancestral records.
TRV