English · KJV
H1461

גּוּב

gûwb /goob/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto dig
KJV usagehusbandman.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gûwb — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word gûwb, represented by H1461, is a primitive root meaning to dig or husbandman. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse, making its usage highly specific within the biblical text. Its meaning is directly tied to agricultural labor and the cultivation of the land.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H1461 is found in the account of the Babylonian exile. The text states that the "captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen" 2 Kings 25:12. The word is used to describe the agricultural laborers who remained in Judah after the main population was deported. It appears in tandem with another Hebrew word for husbandman, H3009, to define this specific role for the remnant.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of agricultural labor:

  • H3009 yâgab (a primitive root; to dig or plow; husbandman): This word is used alongside H1461 in its only appearance 2 Kings 25:12 and also describes husbandmen in a parallel account of the Babylonian exile Jeremiah 52:16.
  • H3755 kôrêm (a vinedresser; vine dresser): This term is paired directly with the concept of husbandmen. It describes the other group left behind by the captain of the guard 2 Kings 25:12 and is also used to describe agricultural workers in contexts of both judgment Joel 1:11 and restoration Isaiah 61:5.

Theological Significance

The significance of H1461 is tied entirely to its singular context:

  • The Remnant Poor: The word is exclusively used to describe the "poor of the land" who were left behind during the exile, highlighting a theme of a remnant being preserved in the land 2 Kings 25:12.
  • Agricultural Labor: Its meaning as "husbandman" points to the fundamental work of cultivating the land. This suggests that even in the midst of national catastrophe, the basic functions of tending the land were to continue.
  • Conqueror's Strategy: The context reveals this was a strategic decision by the Babylonian "captain of the guard" to leave a labor force to maintain the productivity of the conquered territory 2 Kings 25:12.

Summary

In summary, H1461 is a highly specific term whose entire biblical significance is derived from a single verse. It defines the role of a husbandman within the context of the Babylonian exile. Its use in 2 Kings 25:12 serves to identify the poor remnant left in Judah, their function as agricultural laborers, and the strategic decision-making of their conquerors.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יֹגְבִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3009 יָגַב a primitive root; to dig or plow; husbandman. H3755 כֹּרֵם active participle of an imaginary denominative from כֶּרֶם; a vinedresser; vine dresser (as one or two words).

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 2 Kings — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.