Lexical Summary Yeqabtseel: Yeqabtseel Original Word: יְקַבְצְאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jekabzeel From qabats and 'el; God will gather; Jekabtseel, a place in Palestine -- Jekabzeel. Compare Qabts'el. see HEBREW qabats see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW Qabts'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as Qabtseel, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs קַבְצְאֵל, [יְקַבְצְאֵל] proper name, of a location in south of Judah (gathering of El, or El gathereth, compare Sabean, of A‰tar, below √ above); — ׳ק Joshua 15:21; 2 Samuel 23:20 = 1 Chronicles 11:22, Καβ(ε)σεηλ, etc.; ׳וּבִיקַב Nehemiah 11:25 ᵐ5 L Καβσεηλ. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Situated in the deep south of Judah, Jekabzeel lay on the fringe of the Negev, several miles southeast of Hebron and not far from the wilderness border with Edom. The surrounding terrain is semi-arid but arable where spring rains are captured, allowing grain and vineyard cultivation in antiquity. Its proximity to caravan routes linking the Dead Sea basin with the Arabah made it a modest yet strategic settlement, guarding Judah’s southern approaches. Biblical Occurrence Nehemiah 11:25 records the only explicit mention of Jekabzeel: “As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages”. The verse stands within the list of post-exilic resettlements arranged by Nehemiah to repopulate Judah after the Babylonian captivity. The place is almost certainly identical with “Kabzeel,” the hometown of Benaiah son of Jehoiada (2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Chronicles 11:22) and part of the southern Judean allotment (Joshua 15:21). The prefixed yod in Nehemiah yields “Jekabzeel,” a later orthographic form of the same locality. Historical Significance 1. Southern Frontier Post: Both in Joshua’s conquest list and Nehemiah’s resettlement plan, the town marks Judah’s southernmost line. Its reoccupation after exile demonstrates the returnees’ resolve to reclaim every covenant inheritance, even remote border towns vulnerable to Edomite and Arabian incursion. Notable Figures and Events • Benaiah son of Jehoiada—Though Nehemiah employs the later spelling, the earlier “Kabzeel” identifies the hometown of one of David’s mighty men, famed for striking down “two of Ariel of Moab” and a lion in a pit on a snowy day (2 Samuel 23:20). His heroic acts brought renown not only to himself but to his birthplace, illustrating how God can raise noteworthy servants from obscure locations. Ministry and Theological Implications Gathering Motif: The probable sense of the name—“God gathers” or “may God gather”—harmonizes with Nehemiah’s narrative purpose. The Lord, who once scattered Judah for disobedience, now gathers His remnant to rebuild worship, witness, and walls (Nehemiah 1:9; 7:5). Jekabzeel’s restoration thus becomes a microcosm of divine regathering grace. Faithful Stewardship of Land: Scripture repeatedly ties covenant blessing to faithful occupation of the promised land (Deuteronomy 11:24). By recording Jekabzeel among the resettled towns, Nehemiah highlights the principle that no part of God’s inheritance is expendable. Modern ministry likewise values every congregation, however remote, as integral to the larger body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:22). Spiritual Lessons for Today 1. Obscure Places, Enduring Purpose—Jekabzeel teaches that anonymity does not equal insignificance. God’s redemptive account is advanced not only in capitals but in border hamlets where obedient believers live out covenant faithfulness. Thus, though briefly mentioned, Jekabzeel stands as a testament to God’s faithfulness in conserving His people’s heritage, empowering unlikely heroes, and gathering His flock to inhabit every corner of His promised domain. Forms and Transliterations וּבִֽיקַּבְצְאֵ֖ל וביקבצאל ū·ḇîq·qaḇ·ṣə·’êl ūḇîqqaḇṣə’êl uvikkavtzeElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 11:25 HEB: וּבְדִיבֹן֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יהָ וּבִֽיקַּבְצְאֵ֖ל וַחֲצֵרֶֽיהָ׃ KJV: and [in] the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and [in] the villages INT: Dibon towns Jekabzeel villages 1 Occurrence |
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