Lexical Summary dabbesheth: Hump, protuberance Original Word: דַּבֶּשֶׁת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hunch of a camel Intensive from the same as dbash; a sticky mass, i.e. The hump of a camel -- hunch (of a camel). see HEBREW dbash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as debash Definition a hump NASB Translation humps (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דַּבֶּ֫שֶׁת] 1. noun feminine hump (of camel) (etymology?) construct Isaiah 30:6 עלדַּֿבֶּשֶׁת גְּמַלִּים. 2. proper name, of a location on border of Zebulum Joshua 19:11 דַּבָּ֑שֶׁת. Topical Lexicon Term and Translation דַּבֶּשֶׁת (dabbešet) appears once in the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 30:6, rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as “humps” of camels. The word draws attention to the raised, fatty mound on a camel’s back that stores both energy and, in this text, transported wealth. Cultural Background In the ancient Near Eastern desert economy, the camel’s hump enabled long‐distance trade. Merchants packed valuables high above the animal’s spine, keeping them clear of shifting sands and allowing ventilation for the beast. Isaiah’s original hearers would immediately picture a slow‐moving caravan piled with tribute on those humps—a vivid symbol of human resourcefulness harnessed for commerce and diplomacy. Context in Isaiah 30 Isaiah 30:1–7 rebukes Judah for seeking Egyptian aid instead of relying on the LORD. Verse 6 targets the “envoys” who escort Judah’s riches “on the humps of camels” through a perilous wilderness “to a people who cannot profit them.” The solitary occurrence of dabbešet underscores the prophet’s sarcasm: Judah’s trust in visible, bulging reserves of wealth is misplaced. The hump, normally a sign of endurance, becomes an emblem of futility when deployed in a scheme contrary to God’s counsel. Symbolic and Prophetic Implications 1. False Security: The loaded humps picture Judah’s dependence on material assets rather than covenant faithfulness (compare Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 11:4). Lessons for Ministry • Preaching and Teaching: Dabbešet furnishes a concrete illustration for sermons on reliance upon God versus worldly strategies. Theological Threads A. Providence and Supply: Just as a camel’s hump stores sustenance, the LORD equips His people for desert journeys (Exodus 16:31; Matthew 6:31–33). B. Judgment and Mercy: Isaiah’s oracle warns, yet the chapter concludes with future restoration (Isaiah 30:18–26), displaying the balance of discipline and grace. C. Typology of Burdens: Camels bearing treasures parallel Christ bearing sin (Isaiah 53:4), contrasting Judah’s vain cargo with the redemptive burden Jesus accomplishes. Points for Personal Application • Identify modern “humps”—bank accounts, strategic partnerships, technological advances—and submit them to God’s purposes. By highlighting dabbešet, Scripture uses a single, vivid term to reveal a perennial truth: no amount of wealth or planning can replace wholehearted dependence upon the living God. Forms and Transliterations דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁת דבשת dab·be·šeṯ dabbešeṯ dabBeshetLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 30:6 HEB: חֵֽילֵהֶ֗ם וְעַל־ דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁת גְּמַלִּים֙ אֽוֹצְרֹתָ֔ם NAS: on camels' humps, To a people KJV: and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, INT: their riches and humps camels' and their treasures 1 Occurrence |
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