### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Tâbôwr**, represented by `{{H8396}}`, refers to **Tabor**, a mountain in Palestine and an adjacent city. It is defined as a "broken region." This word appears **10 times** in **10 unique verses**. While primarily known as a significant geographical landmark, it also functions as a tribal border, a Levitical city, and a powerful symbol in prophetic writings.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8396}}` serves as a key location for military, civil, and prophetic events. It is most prominent as the site where the LORD commands Barak to gather ten thousand men to fight Sisera [[Judges 4:6]]. The narrative follows Barak as he goes up to **mount Tabor** and then descends from it to achieve victory ([[Judges 4:12]], [[Judges 4:14]]). It also appears as a landmark on a journey, the "plain of **Tabor**" where Saul is told he will meet three men [[1 Samuel 10:3]]. Geographically, it marks a border in the land allotment [[Joshua 19:22]] and is later identified as a city with suburbs given to the Levites [[1 Chronicles 6:77]]. In a darker context, men were slain at **Tabor** [[Judges 8:18]], and the prophet Hosea uses it as a metaphor for a place where a snare has been set [[Hosea 5:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of Tabor as a prominent geographical feature:
* `{{H2022}}` **har** (a mountain or range of hills): This word is frequently used with Tabor to specify its nature as "mount Tabor" [[Judges 4:6]]. Mountains in scripture are often places of divine revelation and significant events, serving as stages for God's interaction with humanity [[Isaiah 52:7]].
* `{{H2768}}` **Chermôwn** (abrupt; Chermon, a mount of Palestine): Hermon is another major mountain mentioned alongside Tabor. They are paired together as representatives of creation that **rejoice** in God's name, signifying the praise offered by the natural world [[Psalms 89:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8396}}` is seen in its symbolic usage across different biblical genres.
* **A Symbol of God's Creation and Majesty:** In the Psalms, **Tabor** and Hermon are personified as joyful creations that praise God, representing the north and south of the created world [[Psalms 89:12]].
* **A Place of Divine Command:** Mount **Tabor** is the specific location where God's command to Barak is to be carried out. The subsequent victory is attributed to the LORD, establishing **Tabor** as a place of divine military strategy and deliverance [[Judges 4:14]].
* **A Metaphor for Certainty and Grandeur:** Jeremiah uses **Tabor**'s physical prominence to illustrate the certainty and imposing nature of a coming king, stating, "Surely as **Tabor** is among the mountains... so shall he come" [[Jeremiah 46:18]].
* **An Image of Spiritual Corruption:** In contrast, Hosea employs **Tabor** as a metaphor for the snares set by Israel's corrupt leadership, demonstrating how a high and visible place can become a center of spiritual danger [[Hosea 5:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8396}}` is far more than a simple geographical name. It is a cornerstone of key Old Testament narratives, functioning as a military rallying point, a tribal boundary, and a Levitical city. Its significance is elevated in poetic and prophetic texts, where **Tabor** becomes a symbol of creation's praise, the certainty of divine judgment, and a stark warning against spiritual corruption. It illustrates how a physical place can carry layers of meaning, from a literal mountain to a profound theological metaphor.
TRV