H1034 H1034
and Beth-lebaoth, a Simeonite town (house of lionesses)
Joshua 19:6 lists Beth-lebaoth among Simeonite cities, a name meaning 'house of lionesses.' This is likely the same as 'Beth-biri' in 1 Chronicles 4:31 and 'Lebaoth' in Joshua 15:32, showing typical spelling variations. The 'lionesses' name may recall local wildlife in the Negev region where Simeon's territory lay, or possibly refer to a cultic association. These southern settlements were originally assigned to Judah but transferred to Simeon because Judah's portion was too large.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Joshua 19:6's 'Beth-lebaoth' (וּבֵית לְבָאוֹת) means 'house of lionesses,' appearing in Simeon's city list. Spanish 'Bet-lebaot,' English 'Beth-lebaoth' preserve the form. Connection with 'Beth-biri' (1 Chronicles 4:31) and 'Lebaoth' (Joshua 15:32) shows textual variation for the same site. The lioness imagery might describe the Negev environment where lions once roamed, or perhaps a shrine with leonine associations—lions appear in various Canaanite cultic contexts. 1×
AR["وَ-بَيْتُ-لَبَاؤُوتَ"]·ben["এবং-বৈৎ-লবাওৎ"]·DE["und-Beyth-Levaoth"]·EN["and-Beyth-Levaoth"]·FR["et-Beyth-Levaoth"]·heb["ו-בית לבאות"]·HI["और-बैत-लबाओत"]·ID["dan-Bet-Lebaot"]·IT["e-Beyth-Levaoth"]·jav["lan-Bèt-Lèbaot"]·KO["그리고-벧-르바오트"]·PT["e-Bet-Levaot"]·RU["и-Бейт-Леваот"]·ES["y-Bet-lebaot"]·SW["na-Bethi-Lebaotha"]·TR["ve-Beyt-Leavot"]·urd["اور-بیت-لباؤت"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בֵּית לְבָאוֹת n.pr.loc. in Simeon (place of lionesses?) Jos 19:6 = בּ׳ בִּרְאִי (perhaps textual error) 1 Ch 4:31; = לְבָאוֹת (in Judah) Jos 15:32.