H2082 H2082
To honor, exalt (verb); Leah's alternate wordplay on Zebulun, 'my husband will honor me' (Genesis 30:20)
This verb provides the second etymology for Zebulun's name in Genesis 30:20: 'Now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.' The root appears in Akkadian (zabālu, 'exalt') and possibly Phoenician onomastics. Leah's two explanations for Zebulun—divine endowment and marital honor—reflect her dual desires: divine recognition and her husband's affection. The wordplay enriches the narrative, showing Leah's complex emotional world.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Spanish 'morará-conmigo' (will dwell with me) follows an alternative interpretation deriving the verb from a root meaning 'dwell,' while English 'will-honor-me' and French follow the 'honor' interpretation. German offers 'wird-bei-mir-wohnen' (will dwell with me), siding with the dwelling interpretation. The divide reflects ancient uncertainty about the root. Leah's hope—whether for honor or dwelling-together—expresses her longing for Jacob's presence and esteem after bearing six sons. 1×
AR["يُكْرِمُنِي"]·ben["সম্মান-করবেন"]·DE["wird-bei-mir-wohnen"]·EN["will-honor-me"]·FR["--honneur-moi"]·heb["יזבלני-י"]·HI["सम्मान-करेगा-मेरा"]·ID["akan tinggal bersamaku"]·IT["will-onorare-me"]·jav["badé-ngurmati-kula"]·KO["높이리라-나를"]·PT["honrar-me-á"]·RU["будет-жить-со-мной"]·ES["morará-conmigo"]·SW["atakaa-nami"]·TR["onurlandıracak-beni"]·urd["عزت-دے-گا-مجھے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [זָבַל] vb. prob. exalt, honour (Assyrian zabâlu COTGloss. and id. on Gn 30:20 1 K 8:13, cf. DlPr 62 f. so De; Ph. n.pr.f. בעלאזבל (prob. = Baal has exalted) cf. אִיזֶבֶל p. 33 supr.; cf. Arabic زَبَلَ take up and carry; > NöZMG 1886, 729, who connects these vbs. with Syriac ܣܒܰܠ bear, carry, cf. Heb. סָבַל)— Qal Impf. יִזְבְּלֵנִי אִישִׁי Gn 30:20b (J), my husband will honour me (in expl. of…