### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Tsᵉbôʼîym**, represented by `{{H6636}}`, refers to **Zeboim** or **Zeboiim**, a place in Palestine. The term, which is also linked to the word for gazelles, appears **5 times** in **5 unique verses**. It is consistently mentioned alongside the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and Admah, establishing its identity as one of the cities of the plain.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6636}}` is first identified as a location defining the border of the Canaanites [[Genesis 10:19]]. It is then presented as a political entity, whose king made **war** `{{H4421}}` in an alliance with the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and Admah ([[Genesis 14:2]], 14:8). The most significant context for Zeboim is its complete destruction by God. It is cited as a prime example of a land that the LORD **overthrew** `{{H2015}}` in His **anger** `{{H639}}` and **wrath** `{{H2534}}`, leaving it desolate [[Deuteronomy 29:23]]. This event becomes a benchmark for divine judgment, later used by God as a comparison for the destruction He mercifully chooses to withhold from Israel [[Hosea 11:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide the context for Zeboim's significance:
* `{{H126}}` **ʼAdmâh**: This city, **Admah**, is mentioned in every verse that contains Zeboim, indicating they were a closely associated pair that shared the same history and fate ([[Genesis 10:19]], [[Deuteronomy 29:23]], [[Hosea 11:8]]).
* `{{H5467}}` **Çᵉdôm** and `{{H6017}}` **ʻĂmôrâh**: Zeboim is consistently listed with **Sodom** and **Gomorrah**, placing it within the group of cities destroyed for their wickedness ([[Genesis 10:19]], [[Deuteronomy 29:23]]).
* `{{H4114}}` **mahpêkâh**: This word, meaning **overthrow** or destruction, is used to define the fate that befell Zeboim and its neighboring cities, highlighting the totality of their ruin [[Deuteronomy 29:23]].
* `{{H2015}}` **hâphak**: The verb **to turn about or over**, is used for the act of God's overthrow of the cities [[Deuteronomy 29:23]] and, in contrast, for God's heart being **turned** within Him as He shows mercy to Ephraim [[Hosea 11:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6636}}` is centered on its role as an archetype of divine judgment.
* **A Lasting Sign of Wrath:** Zeboim stands as an enduring testament to the consequences of sin. Its fate is explicitly tied to God's **anger** `{{H639}}` and **wrath** `{{H2534}}`, making it a permanent historical warning [[Deuteronomy 29:23]].
* **The Standard for Utter Ruin:** The **overthrow** `{{H4114}}` of Zeboim and the other cities of the plain becomes the biblical benchmark for complete desolation, resulting in a land that cannot be sown or sustain life.
* **A Foil for God's Mercy:** In Hosea, the Lord's rhetorical question, "how shall I **set** `{{H7760}}` thee as Zeboim?" [[Hosea 11:8]], uses the city's destruction as a backdrop to magnify the depth of His compassion. He contemplates this ultimate judgment for Israel but His heart turns, choosing mercy instead.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6636}}` is more than just the name of an ancient city. While introduced in Genesis as a geographical and political entity, Zeboim's primary scriptural legacy is as a symbol. It functions as a powerful illustration of divine judgment, perpetually associated with the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. Its story serves as both a stark warning of God's wrath and, paradoxically, a measure against which the vastness of His mercy is revealed.
TRV