The Hebrew word Lᵉbâʼôwth, represented by H3822, is the name for Lebaoth, a place in Palestine. The name itself is the plural form of the word for "lionesses." It appears just 1 time across 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, identifying it as a specific geographical location.
The single biblical mention of H3822 is found in the book of Joshua. It appears within a detailed list of cities located in a particular region. The passage names Lebaoth as one of a group of twenty H6242 and nine H8672 cities that were counted together with their surrounding villages Joshua 15:32. This context firmly establishes Lebaoth as a recognized town or settlement during that time.
The verse where Lebaoth is mentioned connects it to several other key terms that define its context:
- H7978 Shilchîym (javelins or sprouts; Shilchim, a place in Palestine; Shilhim): This is another town listed immediately alongside Lebaoth, indicating a close geographical relationship Joshua 15:32.
- H5871 ʻAyin (fountain; Ajin, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine; Ain): Also included in the list, identifying another settlement in the same grouping as Lebaoth Joshua 15:32.
- H7417 Rimmôwn (Rimmon, the name of a Syrian deity, also of five places in Palestine; Remmon, Rimmon): This place is named as part of the same collection of towns Joshua 15:32.
- H5892 ʻîyr (a city... town): This word is used to classify Lebaoth and the other locations in the list, identifying them as cities Joshua 15:32.
- H2691 châtsêr (a yard... a hamlet... court, tower, village): This term describes the smaller dependent settlements associated with the main cities, referred to as their villages Joshua 15:32.
The significance of H3822 is primarily geographical and administrative within the biblical text.
- Geographical Marker: Lebaoth serves as a specific, named point on the map of ancient Palestine, contributing to the detailed territorial descriptions in the book of Joshua.
- Administrative Unit: Its inclusion in a list totaling twenty H6242 and nine H8672 cities suggests it was part of a recognized district or administrative division Joshua 15:32.
- Settlement Structure: The mention of Lebaoth as a city H5892 that possesses villages H2691 provides insight into the settlement patterns of the era, where larger towns served as centers for smaller surrounding hamlets.
In summary, Lebaoth H3822 is a place name whose meaning is tied entirely to its single appearance in scripture. While its name intriguingly means "lionesses," its biblical role is to function as a geographical and administrative data point. It is identified as one of several cities, including Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon, that formed a distinct group within the landscape of ancient Palestine as recorded in Joshua 15:32.
TRV