H1707 H1707
the humps (of camels, part of description of caravan bearing wealth through desert)
A rare anatomical term for camel humps, appearing in Isaiah's oracle against Egypt and Ethiopia (Isaiah 30:6). The prophet envisions a desperate caravan carrying tribute through the dangerous Negev: wealth loaded 'on the humps of camels.' The image emphasizes both the hazard of the journey and the futility of trusting Egypt. The word is related to a place name (Dabbesheth), suggesting possible connection to local geography or camel-breeding areas.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Isaiah 30:6 paints a vivid scene: 'they carry their riches on the humps of camels, their treasures on the backs of donkeys.' English and Spanish recognize the anatomical term ('humps,' 'joroba de'), while French and German preserve the Hebrew, possibly unsure of the rare vocabulary. The camel hump as load-bearer is culturally specific imagery from desert trade routes. 1×
AR["أَسْنِمَةِ"]·ben["কুঁজ"]·DE["[דבשת]"]·EN["the-humps"]·FR["[דבשת]"]·heb["דבשת"]·HI["कूबड़"]·ID["punuk"]·IT["[דבשת]"]·jav["punuk"]·KO["혹에"]·PT["corcova-de"]·RU["горбах-"]·ES["joroba-de"]·SW["nundu"]·TR["horgucunun"]·urd["کوہان"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [דַּבֶּ֫שֶׁת] 1. n.f. hump (of camel) (etymol.?) cstr. Is 30:6 על־דַּבֶּשֶׁת גְּמַלִּים. 2. n.pr.loc. on border of Zebulun Jos 19:11 דַּבָּ֑שֶׁת.