H1338 H1338
the Bithron - territorial designation east of Jordan, possibly meaning 'the cleft' or 'the ravine'
This geographic term designates a region east of the Jordan, likely characterized by ravines, clefts, or gorges. The root relates to cutting or dividing, suggesting terrain marked by deep wadis or divided landscape. It appears in the narrative of Abner's retreat after combat with Joab's forces, describing the route or region traversed. The definite article indicates a known, specific territory, though its exact location remains unidentified in modern geography.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In 2 Samuel 2:29, Abner and his men march 'through all the Bithron' during their retreat. The context suggests sustained travel through distinctive terrain. Translations consistently preserve the article: 'the Bithron,' 'el-Bitron,' 'le-Bitron,' 'der-Bitron,' treating this as a recognized territorial designation in the Jordan Valley region, though the precise geographic referent is now lost. 1×
AR["الْبِتْرُونَ"]·ben["বিথ্রোণ"]·DE["der-Bitron"]·EN["the-Bitron"]·FR["le-Bitron"]·heb["ה-בתרון"]·HI["बित्रोन"]·ID["Bitron"]·IT["il-Bitron"]·jav["Bitron"]·KO["그-비트론을"]·PT["o-Bitron"]·RU["Битрон"]·ES["el-Bitron"]·SW["Bithron"]·TR["Bitron"]·urd["بترون"]
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
† בִּתְרוֹן prob. n.pr.terr. (cleft, ravine) E. of Jordan; כָּל־הַבּ׳ 2 S 2:29.