Joshua 15:61

בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר בֵּ֚ית הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה מִדִּ֖ין וּסְכָכָֽה
In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

בַּ מִּדְבָּ֑ר
בַּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
מִּדְבָּ֑ר
Root word wilderness, desert, south, speech
Dictionary form: מִדְבָּר · mid-BAWR

בַּ
Hidden "the" בַּ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "in the ___".

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: in the wilderness
in the wilderness ×99 the wilderness ×26 of the wilderness ×23 wilderness ×12 into the wilderness ×11 them in the wilderness ×8 through the wilderness ×7 to the wilderness ×7
More options
wilderness — Modernized KJV standard; retains theological and literary resonance.
desert — Emphasizes aridity and barrenness; good for arid landscape contexts.
wasteland — Stresses desolation and uninhabitability; stronger negative tone.
uninhabited land — Neutral and descriptive; clarifies absence of settlement.
open country — Less dramatic; suits passages about pasture or open terrain.
badlands — Vivid and contemporary; best for harsh, rugged terrain contexts.

BDB1829 H4057

BDB1828 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1830

I. [מִדְבָּר] noun masculine mouth, as organ of speech, — מִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה thy mouth is lovely Song 4:3 || שִׁפְתוֺתַיִךְ, ᵐ5 λαλιά, Jerome eloquium.

BDB1830 H4057

BDB1829 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1831

II. מִדְבָּר270 noun masculine wilderness — Deut 32:10 +; with ה locative מִדְבָּ֫רָה Josh 18:12 + 15 t.; construct Exod 15:22 +; מִדְבַּ֫רָה 1Kgs 19:15 suffix מִדְבָּרָהּ Isa 51:3 —

1. tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds, דָּֽשְׁאוּ נְאוֺת מִדְבָּר the pastures of the wilderness put forth green grass Joel 2:22 ׳מ ׳יִרְעֲפוּ נ the pastures of the wilderness drop (fertility) Ps 65:13 ׳מ ׳יָָֽבְשׁוּ נ are dried up Jer 23:10, compare Jer 9:9; Joel 1:19; Joel 1:20.
2. uninhabited land, מִדְבָּר לֹאאָֿדָם בּוֺ wilderness in which is no man Job 38:26 the abode of pelicans Ps 102:7 wild asses Job 24:5; Jer 2:24 jackals Mal 1:3 ostriches Lam 4:3 מִייִֿתְּנֵנִי בַמִּדְבָּר מְלוֺן אֹרְחִים וְֶ˜אעֶזְבָה אֶתעַֿמִּי O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfarers, that I might leave my people Jer 9:1 טוֺב שֶׁבֶת בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious woman Prov 21:19 בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר וּבְתֹהוּ יְלֵל יְשִׁמֹן in a desert land, and in a waste howling wilderness Deut 32:10.
3. large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities: יִשְׂאוּ מִדְבָּר וְעָרָיו חֲצֵרִים תֵּשֵׁב קֵדָר let the wilderness and its cities lift up (their voice), the villages that Kedar doth inhabit Isa 42:11. There were six cities in the wilderness of Judah Josh 15:61; Josh 15:62 הַמִּדְבָּר usually = wilderness of the wanderings Gen 14:6; Num 14:16; Num 14:29; Num 14:32; Num 14:33 (twice in verse) +, or the great Arabian desert Judg 11:22 +; but may also refer to any other Song 3:6; Song 8:5. Special tracts — (a) of the wilderness of the wandering were שׁוּר ׳מ Exod 15:22, סיןExod 16:1 +, סיני Exod 19:1 +, פארן Num 13:26 +, צן Num 20:1 +, קדשׁ Ps 29:8, אתם Num 33:8 (b) in West Palestine יהודה ׳מ Judg 1:16; Ps 63:1 compare Josh 15:61, מעוֺן 1Sam 23:24; 1Sam 23:25, זיף 1Sam 23:15; 1Sam 26:2, באר שׁבע Gen 21:14, עין גדי 1Sam 24:2, תקוע 2Chr 20:20, ירואל 2Chr 20:16, גבעון 2Sam 2:24 (c) in Eastern Palestine מואב Deut 2:8, אדום 2Kgs 3:8, קדמות Deut 2:26.
4. figurative וְשַׂמְתִּיהָ כַמִּדְבָּר וְשַׁתִּהָ כְּאֶרֶץ צִיָּה and (lest I) make her as a wilderness and set her like a dry land Hos 2:5 הֲמִדְבָּר הָיִיתִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל have I been a wilderness to Israel ? Jer 2:31.

wilderness, desert, south, speech
midbār
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); also speech (including its organs)
  • wilderness
    • pasture
      • "uninhabited land, wilderness"large tracts of wilderness (around cities)"wilderness (figuratively)
    mouth
    • mouth (as organ of speech)

בֵּ֚ית
בֵּ֚ית
Root word a name — transliterate it
Dictionary form: אָב · awb

Noun — Proper Name

his father ×133 of their fathers ×94 his fathers ×86 my father ×80 thy father ×51 of the fathers ×44 the father ×41 their fathers ×30
More options
father — Default choice; direct, natural, widely understood.
ancestor — Prefer when referring to distant forebears or lineage.
forefather — Slightly more formal; good for ancestral or covenantal contexts.
patriarch — Use for tribal or clan heads with religious authority.
family head — Highlights household-leader role in social/legal contexts.
founder — Suits contexts emphasizing originating or establishing a line.

BDB17 H1

BDB16 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB18

אָב1191 noun masculine father (Phoenician אב, Assyrian abu, Arabic , Sabean אב CISiv, 1, 37 1. 2 and others, Ethiopic Aramaic אַבָּא, — absolute אָב Gen 44:19 + 47 t.; construct אַב Gen 17:4; Gen 17:5 (compare in אַבְרָהָם ib. & elsewhere in proper names. On Hal's proposed אֲבִר see אברהם); אֲבִי (compare Ge§§ 90, 3b, 96) Gen 4:20 +; suffix אָבִי Gen 19:34 + (MI אבי); אָבִיךָ Gen 12:1 +; אָבִיו Gen 2:24 +; אָבִ֫יהוּ Judg 14:10 + 6t.; plural אָבוֺת Exod 12:3 +; construct אֲבוֺת Exod 6:25 + 7 t.; suffix אֲבוֺתַי (אֲבֹתַי, אֲבוֺתָ֑י) Gen 47:9 + 15 t.; אֲבוֺתֵיהֶם 1Chr 4:38 + 32 t. (late); אֲבוֺתָם Exod 4:5 + 106 t. etc.; —

1. father of individual Gen 2:24 (+ אֵם) Gen 11:28; Gen 11:29 (twice in verse); Gen 19:31; Gen 19:32; Gen 19:33, + often (mostly J E D); of father as commanding Gen 50:16 (J) Jer 35:6 f Prov 6:20 (compare Gen 18:19 J Gen 28:1; Gen 28:6 P 1Sam 17:20; 1Kgs 2:1); instructing מוסר Prov 1:8; Prov 4:1 (compare Deut 8:5); specifically as begetter, genitor Prov 23:22; Zech 13:3 (twice in verse) (+ אֵם) Isa 45:10 compare Gen 49:4 (J) Lev 18:7; Lev 18:8; Lev 18:11 (P); rebuking Gen 37:10 loving Gen 37:4; Gen 44:20 (J E; compare Gen 22:2; Gen 25:28; Gen 37:3; 2Sam 14:1); pitying Ps 103:13 (in simile compare 2Sam 18:5); blessing Gen 27:41 (J E compare Gen 27:4 also Gen 28:1 P +); as glad Prov 10:1; Prov 15:20 compare Prov 29:3 grieving Gen 37:35 (J E; compare 2Sam 12:22; 2Sam 19:1; 2Sam 19:2 f) etc. Also as object of honour, obedience, love Exod 20:12 (E) = Deut 5:16; Exod 21:15; Exod 21:17 (E) Deut 21:18; Deut 21:19; Gen 28:7 (P) 1Kgs 19:20 (all + אֵם), 1Kgs 50:1; 1Kgs 50:5 (J) Mal 1:6 etc. Hence metaphor of intimate connection Job 17:14 to corruption I cry, My father art thou (|| אִמִּי וַאֲחֹתִי לָֽרִמָּה).
2. of God as father of his people (see RSSem 42), who constituted, controls, guides and lovingly watches over it: Deut 32:6; Jer 3:4; Jer 3:19; Jer 31:9; Isa 63:16 (twice in verse); Isa 64:7; Mal 1:6; Mal 2:10 (compare Exod 4:22; Exod 19:4 (JE) Deut 32:11; Hos 11:1); compare Jer 2:27 (of idolatrous Israel) אֹמְרִים לָעֵץ אָבִי אַתָּה וְלָאֶבֶן אַתְּ ילדתני׃; especially God as father of Davidic line 2Sam 7:14; Ps 89:27 f. of needy (late) Ps 68:6 (compare Ps 103:13) (in proper name, f. of individual, compare below)
3. head of household, family or clan; בֵּית אָבִי as abode Gen 38:11 (twice in verse); Lev 22:13 +; = family Gen 24:40 (|| מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי) Gen 41:51; Gen 46:31 + compare Num 18:1; Num 18:2; Josh 2:12; Josh 2:18; Josh 6:25 especially techn. of divisions of Israel בֵּית אָב לְמִשְׁפָּחוֺת Num 3:30; Num 3:35 = a father's house, i.e. a family or clan; more often plural (אבותם, אבותיו) בֵית אָבוֺת = father's houses = families, clans (compare Di on Exod 6:14) Exod 6:14; Exod 12:3; Num 1:2; Num 1:18 ff (often in Numbers) Josh 14:1; Josh 19:51; Josh 21:1 (twice in verse); Josh 22:14 (twice in verse) (always P in Hexateuch); also 1Chr 5:13; 1Chr 5:15 + often in Chronicles; compare רָאשֵׁי אבות הלוים (= ׳בית א ׳ר) Exod 6:25 compare 1Kgs 8:1; 1Chr 6:4; 1Chr 7:11 + often Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah.
4. ancestor (a) of individual; grandfather (instead of precise term) Gen 28:13; Gen 32:10 (J; where used by Jacob of Abraham & then of Isaac); greatgrandfather 1Kgs 15:13 great-greatgrandfather 1Kgs 15:11 etc.; oft plural (= fathers, forefathers) Gen 15:15; Gen 46:34 (JE) 1Kgs 19:4; 1Kgs 21:3; 1Kgs 21:4; 2Kgs 19:12; 2Kgs 20:17 +; particularly שׁכב עם אבותיו 1Kgs 1:21; 1Kgs 2:10; 1Kgs 11:21; 1Kgs 22:40 +; joined with ׳ויקבר עם אב 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:24; 1Kgs 22:51; 2Kgs 8:24; 2Kgs 15:38 compare v2Kgs 15:7, 2Kgs 16:20 + (all of kings of Judah); intensive, אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַאֲבוֺת אֲבֹתֶיךָ Exod 10:6 compare Dan 11:24 (b) of people Gen 10:21 (J) Gen 17:4; Gen 17:5 (P) Gen 19:37; Gen 19:38 (J) Gen 36:9; Gen 36:43 (P) Deut 26:5; Isa 51:2; Isa 43:27 (where אביך הראשׁון thy first father, see Che) compare also Ezek 16:3; Ezek 16:45 + often; plural Exod 3:13; Exod 3:15; Exod 3:16 (E) Deut 1:8; Josh 1:6; Judg 2:1; 1Sam 12:6 +; 1Sam 12:15 near the end read וּבְמַלְכְּכֶם ᵐ5 We Dr.
5. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art Gen 4:20; Gen 4:21.
6. figurative of producer, generator Job 38:28 הֲיֵשׁ לַמָּטָר אָ֑ב (|| הוֺלִיד אֶגְלֵיטָֽֿל׃ מִיֿ).
7. figurative of benevolence & protection Job 29:6 אָב אָֽנֹכִי לָֽאֶבְיוֺנִים, compare Job 31:18 of Eliakim Isa 22:21 perhaps also of gracious Messianic king אֲבִי עַד Isa 9:5 everlasting father (Ge Ew De Che Brd Di) — others divider of spoil (Abarb Hi Kn Kue BrMP).
8. term of respect & honour (Abbas, Pater, Papa, Pope); applied to master 2Kgs 5:13 priest Judg 17:10; Judg 18:19 prophet 2Kgs 2:12 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:21; 2Kgs 13:14 (twice in verse); compare 2Kgs 8:9 counsellor Gen 45:8 (E; compare δευτέρου πατρός ᵐ5 add. Esth 3:13 τῷ πατρί 1 Mac Esth 11:32); king 1Sam 24:12 artificer 2Chr 2:12; 2Chr 4:16.
9. specifically, ruler, chief (late) 1Chr 2:24; 1Chr 2:42 (twice in verse); etc. (compare Ew§ 273 b) see also EwGeschichte. i. 524. H i. 365. On the force of אָב in proper names (in many probably a divine title), see CheEncy. Bib., ABI, NAMES WITH Nöib., NAMES, §§ 44, 45.

fathers, father, chief, families, patrimony, …
ʾāb
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
  • father of an individual
    • "of God as father of his people"head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan"ancestor
    • grandfather, forefathers (of a person)
      • "of people
    originator or patron of a class, profession, or art"of producer, generator (figuratively)"of benevolence and protection (figuratively)"term of respect and honor"ruler or chief (specifically)

הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה
הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Beth-arabah")
Dictionary form: בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה · bate haw-uh-raw-BAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: beth-arabah
and beth-arabah ×1 beth-arabah ×1 of beth-arabah ×1
More options
Beth-arabah — Standard proper noun; best for most translation contexts.
House of the Arabah — Literal rendering; highlights geographic meaning of name.
Beth Arabah — Unhy­phen­ated form; suits modern Bible translations.
Beth-Arabah — Capitalized second element; some modern translations prefer this.

BDB1082 H1026 H6164

BDB1081 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1083

בֵּית הָֽעֲרָבָה proper name, of a location (place of the depression) reckoned to Judah Josh 15:6; Josh 15:61, to Benjamin Josh 18:22 = הָֽעֲרָבָה Josh 18:18, הָֽעֲרָבָ֑תָה vJosh 18:18 compare also adjective, of a people הָֽעַרְבָתִי 2Sam 23:31 (perhaps read ׳בֵּיתהָֽֿע Klo compare Dr) = 1Chr 11:32 — site unknown.

beth-arabah
bêt hāʿărābâ
house of the desert valley, place of the depression
Beth-ha-Arabah, a place in Palestine
  • a place in Judah or in Benjamin, site unknown

מִדִּ֖ין
מִדִּ֖ין
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Middin")
Dictionary form: מִדִּין · mid-DEEN

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: middin
middin ×1
More options
Middin — Standard transliteration; use for proper place names.
Middin (a wilderness town) — Adds geographic context for unfamiliar readers.
Middin (in the Judean wilderness) — Most specific; ideal in study Bible footnotes.

BDB4514 H4081

BDB4513 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4515

מִדִּין proper name, of a location city of Judah Josh 15:61, site unknown, A Μαθων; ᵐ5L Μαδδειν.

middin
middîn
measures
Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
  • one of the 6 cities of Judah located in the wilderness

וּ סְכָכָֽה
וּ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
סְכָכָֽה
Root word a name — transliterate it ("And secacah")
Dictionary form: סְכָכָה · seh-kaw-KAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: and secacah
and secacah ×1
More options
Secacah — Standard proper-noun spelling for this Judean wilderness settlement.
Sechacah — Alternate transliteration found in some modern critical editions.
Secaca — Simplified spelling used in some contemporary Bible translations.

BDB5585 H5527

BDB5584 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5586

סְכָכָה proper name, of a location in wilderness of Judah Josh 15:61 A Σοχοχα, ᵐ5L Σχαχα. Site unknown.

secacah
sĕkākâ
thicket
Secacah, a place in Palestine
  • one of the 6 cities of Judah located in the wilderness bordering on the Dead Sea

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here בֵּ֚ית Yetiv — a lesser break הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה Zaqef Qatan — a strong break מִדִּ֖ין Tipeha — a lesser break וּסְכָכָֽה Silluq — end of the verse

בַּמִּדְבָּר בֵּית הָֽעֲרָבָה מִדִּין וּסְכָכָֽה׃
61
In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
Cross References

Joshua 15:6

וְעָלָה הַגְּבוּל בֵּית חָגְלָה וְעָבַר מִצְּפוֹן לְבֵית הָֽעֲרָבָה וְעָלָה הַגְּבוּל אֶבֶן בֹּהַן בֶּן-רְאוּבֵֽן׃
6
And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:

Joshua 18:18

וְעָבַר אֶל-כֶּתֶף מוּל-הָֽעֲרָבָה צָפוֹנָה וְיָרַד הָֽעֲרָבָֽתָה׃
18
And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
Joshua 15:60
Read Joshua 15
Joshua 15:62