the same as לְבוֹנָה; Lebonah, a place in Palestine; Lebonah.
Transliteration:Lᵉbôwnâh
Pronunciation:leb-o-naw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H3829 (לְבוֹנָה, Lᵉbôwnâh) functions as a proper noun, specifically identifying a geographical location within ancient Israel. Its primary meaning is "Lebonah," a place in Palestine. Crucially, this term is a homonym with H3828 (לְבוֹנָה, Lᵉbôwnâh), which denotes "frankincense." While the spelling in the Hebrew text is identical, the Strong's numbers differentiate the two, indicating distinct semantic domains: one a fragrant resin, the other a specific town or landmark. The semantic range of H3829 is therefore limited to its function as a unique place name, serving as a fixed point in the biblical landscape. Its etymology, though shared with the word for frankincense (possibly from a root meaning "white" or "pure," referring to the color of the resin), applies to the *place* as a name rather than an inherent quality of the location itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H3829 appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Judges:
* [[Judges 21:19]]: "And they said, 'Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly, in a place which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.'"
In this singular occurrence, Lebonah serves as a geographical landmark, precisely locating Shiloh for the Israelite tribes. The context is the aftermath of the devastating civil war against the tribe of Benjamin, where the remaining Benjaminites are advised to capture wives from the annual feast at Shiloh. The detailed geographical markers—north of Bethel, east of the highway, and south of Lebonah—underscore the historical and geographical precision of the biblical narrative. Lebonah's mention, alongside well-known sites like Bethel and Shechem, anchors the narrative in a tangible, verifiable landscape, aiding the reader in visualizing the setting of these critical events. Its solitary appearance highlights its role as a specific, perhaps lesser-known but locally significant, marker.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word to H3829 is H3828 (לְבוֹנָה, Lᵉbôwnâh), which means "frankincense." The identical spelling in the Hebrew text presents a classic case of homonymy, where two distinct words share the same form but possess different meanings and etymological paths (or at least different semantic applications of a common root). While H3828 is rich in theological and cultic significance due to its use in offerings and anointing oils (e.g., [[Leviticus 2:1]], [[Exodus 30:34]]), H3829 carries no such direct cultic or symbolic weight.
Other related concepts include the broader category of biblical place names and their significance in establishing the historicity and geographical reality of the biblical narrative. The mention of adjacent cities like Bethel (`{{H1008}}`) and Shechem (`{{H7927}}`) in [[Judges 21:19]] places Lebonah within a network of known ancient Near Eastern settlements, providing a spatial context for the events described. The practice of using multiple landmarks to pinpoint a location (e.g., "north of X," "south of Y") is a common feature of ancient geographical descriptions, enhancing the precision of the text.
### Theological Significance
As a singular geographical reference point, the theological significance of H3829 is primarily indirect. It does not carry inherent symbolic meaning or theological weight in the manner of, say, Jerusalem or Mount Sinai. Instead, its importance lies in its contribution to the verisimilitude and historical grounding of the biblical record. The precise geographical details, including the mention of Lebonah, demonstrate the grounded nature of the divine narrative within human history and geography.
In the context of [[Judges 21:19]], Lebonah helps to set the stage for events that, while morally troubling (the abduction of women), are presented as actual occurrences within Israel's historical development. The God of Israel interacts with His people in specific places and times, and the inclusion of such precise, even obscure, geographical markers underscores the reality of these interactions. It speaks to the meticulous nature of the biblical text, which provides concrete details that allow for the mapping of the ancient world and the events that unfolded within it, reinforcing the historical reliability of the divine revelation.
### Summary
H3829 (לְבוֹנָה, Lᵉbôwnâh) designates Lebonah, a specific geographical location in ancient Palestine. Despite sharing its Hebrew spelling with the word for "frankincense" (`{{H3828}}`), H3829 is distinct in its meaning and application. It appears only once in the Bible, in [[Judges 21:19]], where it functions as a precise landmark, aiding in the location of Shiloh. Its significance is rooted in its contribution to the detailed and historically grounded nature of the biblical narrative, anchoring the events of the book of Judges within a tangible geographical reality. While lacking direct theological symbolism, Lebonah's inclusion serves to underscore the reliability and specific context of God's interaction with His people in the land He provided.
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