Topical Bible: Jebusite

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Jebusites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are most notably associated with the city of Jerusalem, which was originally called Jebus. The Jebusites are first mentioned in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:16, where they are listed as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham. This places them among the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham.

Historical Background

The Jebusites are described as a strong and resilient people who inhabited the hill country, particularly the area around Jerusalem. In Joshua 15:63, it is noted that the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem: "But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So to this day, the Jebusites live there with the descendants of Judah." This indicates their significant fortifications and the strategic importance of their city.

Biblical References

The Jebusites are mentioned in several key biblical passages. In Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him the land of various tribes, including the Jebusites: "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.'"

During the conquest of Canaan, the Jebusites are listed among the peoples that the Israelites were commanded to dispossess (Deuteronomy 7:1). However, their stronghold in Jerusalem remained under Jebusite control until the time of King David.

David's Conquest

The most significant biblical event involving the Jebusites is King David's conquest of Jerusalem. In 2 Samuel 5:6-9, David captures the city from the Jebusites and establishes it as the political and spiritual center of Israel: "Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. And the Jebusites said to David, 'You will never get in here; even the blind and lame can repel you,' thinking, 'David cannot get in here.' Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David)."

This conquest marked a turning point in Israelite history, as Jerusalem became the capital of the united kingdom and later the site of Solomon's Temple.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The Jebusites, like other Canaanite tribes, practiced a polytheistic religion that was often at odds with the monotheistic worship of Yahweh by the Israelites. Their presence in Jerusalem before David's conquest suggests that the city had a diverse cultural and religious history. The integration of the Jebusite city into Israelite society under David's rule reflects the broader theme of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs.

Legacy

The Jebusites, though eventually absorbed into Israelite society, left a lasting legacy through their association with Jerusalem. The city's Jebusite origins are a testament to its ancient history and its central role in biblical narratives. The transformation of Jebus into Jerusalem under David's leadership symbolizes the establishment of a divinely ordained kingdom and the centralization of worship in the city that would become the spiritual heart of Israel.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

JEBUS; JEBUSI; JEBUSITE

je'-bus, jeb'-u-si, jeb'-u-zit (yebhuc, ha-yebhuci): "Jebus" is an old name for Jerusalem (Judges 19:10, 11 1 Chronicles 4:5 parallel 2 Samuel 5:6-9, "the same is Jerus"; see preceding article). "Jebusi" (literally, "Jebusite") is also used as a name for the city in the King James Version (Joshua 18:16, 28; compare Joshua 15:8); the Revised Version (British and American) correctly renders "Jebusite" (see JERUSALEM). "Jebusites," for the people (in the King James Version Genesis 15:21 Exodus 3:8, 17, etc.), does not occur in Hebrew in the plural; hence, in the Revised Version (British and American) is always rendered in the singular, "Jebusite." The "Jebusite" is said in Genesis 10:16 1 Chronicles 1:14 to be the 3rd son of Canaan, i.e. of the country of Canaan. Elsewhere he represents a tribe separate from the Canaanites. He stands between Heth and the Amorite (compare Numbers 13:29 Joshua 11:3 Ezekiel 16:3, 15). In the lists of the peoples inhabiting Palestine the "Jebusite" is always placed last, a fact indicative, probably, of their smaller number.

To what race the Jebusites belonged is doubtful. Their name does not seem Semitic, and they do not make their appearance till after the patriarchal period.

The original name of Jerusalem was Babylonian, Uru-Salim, "the city of Salim," shortened into Salem in Genesis 14:18 and in the inscriptions of the Egyptian kings Ramses II and Ramses III. In the Tell el-Amarna Letters (1400 B.C.) Jerusalem is still known as Uru-Salim, and its king bears a Hittite name, implying that it was at the time in the possession of the Hittites. His enemies, however, were closing around him, and one of the tablets shows that the city was eventually captured and its king slain. These enemies would seem to have been the Jebusites, since it is after this period that the name "Jebus" makes its appearance for the first time in the Old Testament (Judges 19:10, 11).

The Jebusite king at the time of the conquest was Adoni-zedek, who met his death at Beth-boron (Joshua 10:1; in Joshua 10:5 the word "Amorite" is used in its Babylonian sense to denote the inhabitants of Canaan generally). The Jebusites were a mountain tribe (Numbers 13:29 Joshua 11:3). Their capital "Jebus" was taken by the men of Judah and burned with fire (Judges 18), but they regained possession of, and held, the fortress till the time of David (2 Samuel 5:6).

When Jerusalem was taken by David, the lives and property of its Jebusite inhabitants were spared, and they continued to inhabit the temple-hill, David and his followers settling in the new City of David on Mt. Zion (Joshua 15:8, 63 Judges 1:21; Judges 19:11). And as Araunah is called "king" (2 Samuel 24:23), we may conclude that their last ruler also had been lowed to live. His name is non-Sem, and the various spellings of it (compare 1 Chronicles 21:15, "Ornan") indicate that the Hebrew writers had some difficulty in pronouncing it. The Jebusites seem ultimately to have blended with the Israelite population.

James Orr

Strong's Hebrew

728. Aravnah -- a Jebusite
... 727, 728. Aravnah. 729 . a Jebusite. Transliteration: Aravnah Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-av-naw') Short Definition: Araunah. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/728.htm - 6k

771. Ornan -- a Jebusite
... Ornan. 772 . a Jebusite. Transliteration: Ornan Phonetic Spelling: (or-nawn')
Short Definition: Ornan. ... Probably from 'oren; strong; Ornan, a Jebusite -- Ornan. ...
/hebrew/771.htm - 6k

2983. Yebusi -- inhab. of Jebus
... inhab. of Jebus. Transliteration: Yebusi Phonetic Spelling: (yeb-oo-see') Short
Definition: Jebusite. ... of Jebus NASB Word Usage Jebusite (25), Jebusites (16). ...
/hebrew/2983.htm - 6k

2011. Hinnom -- a valley Southwest of Jer.
... NASB Word Usage Ben-hinnom* (7), Hinnom (6). Hinnom. Probably of foreign origin;
Hinnom, apparently a Jebusite -- Hinnom. 2010, 2011. Hinnom. 2012 . ...
/hebrew/2011.htm - 6k

Library

That when David had Numbered the People, they were Punished; and ...
... the pestilence to cease, and sent Gad the prophet to him, and commanded him to go
up immediately to the thrashing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and build an ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 that when david.htm

Chapter x
... the tribe (cf. v.16, Jebusite, Amorite, Girgashite, etc.) or the name of the people
(cf. v.13, Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, etc., all plural nouns). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

The Acts of Barnabus.
... And having bound him to take him away to the governor, and a pious Jebusite, [2155]
a kinsman of Nero, having come to Cyprus, the Jews, learning this, took ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of barnabus/the acts of barnabus.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... into Thy rest, Thou and the Ark of Thy strength." And as the Ark is borne nearer
to the ancient gates, which once defended the heathen Jebusite against all foes ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

The God who Dwells with Men
... probably to be thought of as being chanted when the procession had reached the summit
of the hill and stood before the barred gates of the ancient Jebusite city ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the god who dwells with.htm

The Children and the Dogs
... Canaanites should be absorbed in Israel as thoroughly as that which gave Araunah
to the kindliest intercourse with David, for Ekron should be as a Jebusite (9:7 ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 7 24-30 the children and.htm

Caesarea. Strato's Tower.
... R. Josi Bar Chaninah saith, What is that that is written, 'And Ekron shall be as
a Jebusite?' (Zechariah 9:7). These are the theatres and judgment-seats which ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 57 caesarea stratos tower.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... The ancient Jebusite fort, the City of David, Mount Zion, [530] was now the priests'
quarter, Ophel, and the old royal palace and stables had been thrown into ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

May 4. "Greater is He that is in You than He that is in the World" ...
... straw. It is the old boast of the Jebusite, when they told David they could
defend Jerusalem by a garrison of the blind and lame. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /may 4 greater is he.htm

Of the Meaning of the Seven Nations of Whose Lands Israel Took ...
... many nations before thee, the Hittite, and the Girgashites, and the Amorite, the
Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xvi of the meaning.htm

Thesaurus

Jebusite (39 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEBUS; JEBUSI; JEBUSITE. je'-bus,
jeb'-u-si, jeb'-u-zit (yebhuc, ha-yebhuci): "Jebus" is an old ...
/j/jebusite.htm - 25k

Per'izzites (21 Occurrences)
... unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the
Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite...
/p/per'izzites.htm - 13k

Jebusi (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEBUS; JEBUSI; JEBUSITE. je'-bus,
jeb'-u-si, jeb'-u-zit (yebhuc, ha-yebhuci): "Jebus" is an old ...
/j/jebusi.htm - 11k

Jeb'usite (8 Occurrences)
Jeb'usite. Jebusite, Jeb'usite. Jebusites . Multi-Version Concordance
Jeb'usite (8 Occurrences). Joshua 15:8 And the border went ...
/j/jeb'usite.htm - 9k

Jebus (5 Occurrences)
... the name "Jebus" was evolved by the Hebrews as an alternate name, and possibly they
may have imagined an earlier name, for Jerusalem from JEBUSITE (which see ...
/j/jebus.htm - 13k

Jeb'usites (30 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jeb'usites (30 Occurrences). Genesis 10:16 and the
Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite; (See RSV). ...
/j/jeb'usites.htm - 16k

Hivite (25 Occurrences)
... good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the
Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite...
/h/hivite.htm - 17k

Perizzite (22 Occurrences)
... good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the
Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite...
/p/perizzite.htm - 16k

Araunah (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Agile; also called Ornan 1 Chronicles 21:15, a Jebusite
who dwelt in Jerusalem before it was taken by the Israelites. ...
/a/araunah.htm - 13k

Girgashite (7 Occurrences)
... AH Sayce. Multi-Version Concordance Girgashite (7 Occurrences). Genesis 10:16 the
Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/g/girgashite.htm - 11k

Resources

Who was Araunah the Jebusite? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Jebusites? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Dome of the Rock? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Jebusite (39 Occurrences)

Genesis 10:16
the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 15:21
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 3:8
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 3:17
and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey."'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 13:5
It shall be, when Yahweh shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 23:23
For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 33:2
I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 34:11
Observe that which I command you this day. Behold, I drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 13:29
Amalek dwells in the land of the South: and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along by the side of the Jordan."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 7:1
When Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before you, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 20:17
but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 3:10
Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 9:1
It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 11:3
to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 12:8
in the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 15:8
The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 15:63
As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn't drive them out; but the Jebusites live with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 18:16
The border went down to the farthest part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward. It went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En Rogel.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV)

Joshua 18:28
Zelah, Eleph, the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Joshua 24:11
"'You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 1:21
The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 3:5
The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 19:11
When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, "Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 5:6
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here;" thinking, "David can't come in here."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 5:8
David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul." Therefore they say, "The the blind and the lame can't come into the house."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 24:16
When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 24:18
Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 9:20
As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:14
and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:4
David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:6
David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:15
God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:18
Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David, that David should go up, and raise an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:28
At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 3:1
Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared to David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:7
As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezra 9:1
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 9:8
and found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Zechariah 9:7
I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Jebusite

Related Terms

Jebusites (29 Occurrences)

Jebusite (39 Occurrences)