English · KJV
H798

אַשְׁדּוֹת הַפִּסְגָּה

ʼAshdôwth hap-Piçgâh /ash-doth' hap-pisgaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the plural of אֲשֵׁדָה and פִּסְגָּה with the article interposed
Meaningravines of the Pisgah; Ashdoth-Pisgah, a place east of the Jordan
KJV usageAshdoth-pisgah.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼAshdôwth hap-Piçgâh — 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 phrase ʼAshdôwth hap-Piçgâh, represented by H798, refers to a specific location east of the Jordan. Its name translates to ravines of the Pisgah. Derived from the plural of H794 ʼăshêdâh, it identifies a key geographical feature. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, always in the context of describing territorial boundaries.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H798 functions as a precise landmark during the pivotal period of Israel's settlement of the promised land. It is first mentioned as part of the eastern border of the territory conquered, situated under the slopes of Pisgah and stretching toward the salt H4417 sea H3220 Deuteronomy 3:17. The location is again used to define the extent of the kingdoms defeated by the Israelites, marking a southern point in a list of boundaries that run along the plain H6160 Joshua 12:3. Finally, it is listed as one of the places allotted to the tribe of Reuben as part of their inheritance Joshua 13:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the geographical and political context of ʼAshdôwth hap-Piçgâh:

  • H794 ʼăshêdâh (springs): This word, meaning "a ravine; springs," forms the basis of the name. It describes the physical topography of the region, which was known for its ravines or springs Joshua 10:40.
  • H1020 Bêyth ha-Yshîy-môwth (Beth-jeshimoth): This "house of the deserts" was a town east of the Jordan, mentioned alongside H798 as a key location in the territorial allotment to Reuben Joshua 13:20.
  • H1047 Bêyth Pᵉʻôwr (Bethpeor): Meaning "house of Peor," this was another town east of the Jordan. It is listed with Ashdothpisgah and Bethjeshimoth, indicating a cluster of important sites in the region given to Reuben Joshua 13:20.

Theological Significance

The significance of H798 is primarily geographical and historical, anchoring the narrative of Israel's settlement to a tangible map.

  • Boundary Marker: Its most frequent use is to delineate the borders of conquered land and tribal inheritances, providing a clear and specific reference point for the territories east of the Jordan H3383 Deuteronomy 3:17.
  • Tribal Inheritance: The inclusion of Ashdothpisgah in the list of lands given to Reuben solidifies its importance as a recognized place within the Israelite tribal system Joshua 13:20.
  • Geographical Anchor: It consistently appears with other major landmarks like the sea H3220 of the plain H6160 and Chinnereth H3672, helping to establish a coherent picture of the region's geography.

Summary

In summary, H798 ʼAshdôwth hap-Piçgâh is more than just a name on a map; it is a vital geographical pin in the biblical account of the conquest and settlement of Canaan. While appearing only a few times, it plays a crucial role in defining the precise boundaries of God's promises to the tribes of Israel, grounding the sweeping narrative of inheritance in the specific ravines and plains east of the Jordan.

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 noun across 10 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — 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.

  • אַשְׁדּוֹת
  • פִּסְגָּה

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.

H794 אֲשֵׁדָה feminine of אֶשֶׁד; a ravine; springs. H4417 מֶלַח from מָלַח; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved); salt(-pit). H3220 יָם from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the ar H6160 עֲרָבָה from עָרַב (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of H1020 בֵּית הַיְשִׁימוֹת from בַּיִת and the plural of יְשִׁימַה with the article interposed; house of the deserts; Beth-ha-Jeshimoth, a town Eas H1047 בֵּית פְּעוֹר from בַּיִת and פְּעוֹר; house of Peor; Beth-Peor, a place East of the Jordan; Bethpeor.

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

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Joshua (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Deuteronomy
2
Joshua

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.