from בּוּס; trodden, i.e. threshing-place; Jebus, the original name of Jerusalem; Jebus.
Transliteration:Yᵉbûwç
Pronunciation:yeb-oos'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma יְבוּס (Yᵉbûwç, `{{H2982}}`) is derived from the root בּוּס (bûs, `{{H947}}`), which signifies "to trample," "to tread down," or "to thresh." Consequently, the noun יְבוּס carries the literal sense of "trodden" or "a place that is trodden." The base definition specifically links it to a "threshing-place," an area where grain is trodden, often by oxen, to separate the kernels from the husks. However, in its primary biblical usage, יְבוּס functions as a proper noun, "Jebus," serving as the ancient, pre-Israelite name for the city that would later become Jerusalem. While the etymological connection to "treading" might subtly allude to its defensibility or its eventual conquest, its semantic range is almost exclusively geographical and historical, identifying a specific location.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term "Jebus" (יְבוּס) appears in the Old Testament predominantly in contexts that identify it as the former name of Jerusalem, often clarifying its identity for the reader, and in relation to its inhabitants, the Jebusites.
* In **Joshua 15:8** and **Joshua 18:28**, "Jebus (that is, Jerusalem)" is mentioned when delineating the tribal boundaries of Judah and Benjamin, respectively. This parenthetical clarification confirms the city's dual identity and its strategic location at the intersection of tribal territories.
* **Judges 19:10-11** recounts a Levite's journey, where he deliberately avoids spending the night in "Jebus (that is, Jerusalem)" because it was a city of foreigners (Jebusites). This passage highlights its status as a non-Israelite enclave, emphasizing the incomplete conquest of Canaan during the period of the Judges.
* The most significant occurrences are found in the accounts of King David's conquest. **2 Samuel 5:6-9** and **1 Chronicles 11:4-7** describe David's successful capture of "Jebus," specifically the stronghold of Zion. These passages explicitly state that "David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus)" and that David subsequently renamed it the "City of David," establishing it as his capital. This pivotal event marks the transition of the city from a foreign stronghold to the political and spiritual heart of the united monarchy.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **בּוּס (bûs, `{{H947}}`):** The verbal root from which יְבוּס is derived, meaning "to trample," "to tread down," or "to thresh." This etymological link suggests a connection to physical treading, whether in agriculture or in conquest.
* **יְבוּסִי (Yᵉbûwçî, `{{H2983}}`):** The gentilic noun, "Jebusite," referring to the inhabitants of Jebus. The Jebusites are consistently listed among the pre-Israelite peoples of Canaan (e.g., [[Genesis 10:16]], [[Exodus 3:8]], [[Numbers 13:29]], [[Joshua 3:10]]).
* **יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yᵉrûshālayim, `{{H3389}}`):** Jerusalem, the name that superseded Jebus after David's conquest. The shift in nomenclature signifies a profound change in the city's identity, from a foreign stronghold to the capital of God's chosen people.
* **צִיּוֹן (Tsiyyôn, `{{H6726}}`):** Zion, the specific stronghold within Jebus that David captured. It became known as the "City of David" and later expanded in theological significance to represent Jerusalem as a whole, particularly as the dwelling place of God.
* **עִיר דָּוִד (ʿÎr Dāwiḏ):** The "City of David," the name given to the captured stronghold of Zion within Jebus/Jerusalem, emphasizing its new ownership and central importance under the Davidic monarchy.
### Theological Significance
The transformation of "Jebus" into "Jerusalem" carries immense theological weight within the biblical narrative. Jebus represents the unconquered, foreign element within the Promised Land, a symbol of the lingering pagan presence that resisted Israelite dominion. Its very name, potentially alluding to "trodden," could metaphorically suggest its eventual subjugation.
David's conquest of Jebus, as detailed in [[2 Samuel 5]] and [[1 Chronicles 11]], is more than a mere military achievement; it is a pivotal moment in salvation history. By seizing Jebus, David establishes a unified capital for all Israel, fulfilling God's promise of a land and a kingdom. This act signifies the sanctification of a formerly foreign territory, transforming it into the spiritual and political heart of the nation. Jerusalem, the "City of David," becomes the designated locus of God's presence among His people, the place where His name is to dwell ([[Deuteronomy 12:11]]).
Furthermore, the fact that the site chosen for the altar (and later the Temple) was a Jebusite threshing floor, purchased by David from Araunah (Ornan) the Jebusite ([[2 Samuel 24:18-25]], [[1 Chronicles 21:18-28]]), is profoundly symbolic. A place literally associated with "treading" (threshing) becomes the most sacred ground in Israel, where atonement is made and God's glory is manifested. This illustrates God's sovereign ability to redeem and consecrate even that which was formerly profane or foreign, integrating it into His divine plan for His people.
### Summary
The Hebrew word יְבוּס (Yᵉbûwç, `{{H2982}}`) primarily functions as the ancient, pre-Israelite name for Jerusalem, though its etymological root suggests a meaning related to "trodden" or "threshing-place." Biblically, "Jebus" consistently identifies the city before its conquest by King David, as seen in passages like [[Joshua 15:8]], [[Judges 19:10-11]], and [[1 Chronicles 11:4-5]]. It underscores Jerusalem's former status as a foreign, unconquered enclave within the Promised Land, inhabited by the "Jebusites" (`{{H2983}}`). Theologically, the transition from "Jebus" to "Jerusalem" (`{{H3389}}`), particularly its designation as the "City of David" (`{{H6726}}`), represents a profound shift from a pagan stronghold to the spiritual and political center of God's covenant people. David's capture of Jebus and the subsequent establishment of the Temple on a former Jebusite threshing floor powerfully illustrate God's redemptive work, sanctifying a formerly foreign place to become the dwelling place of His presence and the heart of His kingdom.
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