Lexical Summary Allon Bakuth: Oak of Weeping Original Word: אַלּוֹן בָּכוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Allon-bachuth From 'allown and a variation of bkiyth; oak of weeping; Allon-Bakuth, a monumental tree -- Allon-bachuth. see HEBREW 'allown see HEBREW bkiyth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom allon and bakah Definition "oak of weeping," a tree near the grave of Rebekah's nurse NASB Translation Allon-bacuth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּכוּת noun feminine weeping. Only in אַלּוֺן בָּכוּת Genesis 35:8 i.e. mourning oak, compare אלון, p. 47. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Allon-bacuth appears once, in Genesis 35:8, where the Berean Standard Bible records: “Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bacuth.” Historical Context The notice sits in the larger narrative of Jacob’s return to Bethel (Genesis 35:1-15). The patriarch is retracing the steps of his earlier flight from Esau, building an altar, and calling his household to renewed purity. The death of Deborah—an otherwise silent servant who had likely accompanied Rebekah from Paddan-aram (Genesis 24:59)—interrupts the account. Her burial under the oak marks both the end of an era that bridged Isaac’s and Jacob’s households and a transition toward the covenant’s next generation. Cultural and Symbolic Role of Oaks In the Ancient Near East, large trees served as landmarks, meeting points, and places of solemn assembly. Oaks in particular evoked strength and permanence (Isaiah 61:3). Planting or naming an oak could commemorate either blessing (Genesis 12:6-7; Judges 6:11) or judgment (Ezekiel 6:13). The “oak of weeping” stands among these memorial trees, preserving collective memory within Israel’s landscape. Memorial Naming in Genesis Patriarchs repeatedly assign names to sites to mark divine encounters or pivotal events (Genesis 28:19; 32:30; 35:15). Jacob’s designation of Allon-bacuth follows this pattern but highlights human grief rather than a direct theophany. The act affirms that even sorrow is woven into the covenant account and is remembered before God. Theological Significance 1. Value of the Hidden Servant: Scripture pauses to honor Deborah, a nurse whose steady ministry shaped the matriarch Rebekah and likely influenced Jacob. Allon-bacuth amplifies the biblical theme that God notices and records faithful service that others may overlook (Hebrews 6:10). Intertextual Resonances • Bethel remains a site of prophetic confrontation centuries later (1 Kings 13:1-10; Hosea 10:15), suggesting that the spiritual heritage established by patriarchal acts remains contested. Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care: Allon-bacuth invites ministry leaders to create tangible memorials—whether services, gardens, or scholarships—that acknowledge bereavement and anchor hope in God’s promises. Typological Insight The oak’s steadfastness amid weeping prefigures the cross, a tree where sorrow and hope converge. At Calvary, deepest grief meets ultimate redemption, fulfilling the pattern hinted at under Allon-bacuth. Related Sites and Traditions Early Jewish and Christian pilgrims identified various large oaks near Bethel as candidates for the original tree, though none can be confirmed. The enduring impulse to locate and venerate such a site testifies to the memory’s lasting spiritual weight. Forms and Transliterations בָּכֽוּת׃ בכות׃ bā·ḵūṯ baChut bāḵūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 35:8 HEB: שְׁמ֖וֹ אַלּ֥וֹן בָּכֽוּת׃ פ NAS: the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth. KJV: of it was called Allonbachuth. INT: called and the name Allon-bacuth |
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