3003. Yabesh
Lexical Summary
Yabesh: Jabesh

Original Word: יָבֵשׁ
Part of Speech: proper name, of a location; location; person
Transliteration: Yabesh
Pronunciation: yah-BAYSH
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-bashe')
KJV: Jobesh (-Gilead)
NASB: Jabesh
Word Origin: [the same as H3002 (יָבֵשׁ - dry) often with the addition of H1568 (גִּלעָד - Gilead), i.e. Jabesh of Gilad)]

1. Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jobesh Gilead

The same as yabesh (also Yabeysh {yaw-bashe'}; often with the addition of Gil'ad, i.e. Jabesh of Gilad); Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine -- Jobesh ((-Gilead)).

see HEBREW yabesh

see HEBREW Gil'ad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yabesh
Definition
a place in Gilead, also an Isr.
NASB Translation
Jabesh (12), Jabesh-gilead* (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
III. יָבֵשׁ, יָבֵישׁ proper name, of a location or

person

1. location יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד Jabesh of Gilead, ᵐ5 Ιαβ(ε)ις Γαλααδ, exact site unknown, Judges 21:8,9,10,12,14; 2 Samuel 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:11 (ᵐ5L Ιαβις τῆς Γαλααδ); יָבֵישׁ גִּלְעָד 1 Samuel 11:1,9; 1 Samuel 31:11; 2 Samuel 2:4,5 (in these three ᵐ5L Ιαβις τῆς Γαλαατιδιτος); יָבֵישׁ 1 Samuel 11:1,3,5,9,10; יָבֵשׁ 1 Chronicles 10:12; יָבֵ֑ישָׁה 1 Chronicles 10:12; "" יָבֵ֫שָׁה 1 Samuel 31:12,13.

2. person יָבֵשׁ father of Shallum 2 Kings 15:10,13,14.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope

יָבֵשׁ, transliterated “Jabesh,” literally means “dry.” In Scripture the word functions chiefly as (1) the name of a city in Gilead east of the Jordan, and (2) the personal name of the father of Shallum, the brief reigning king of Israel (2 Kings 15). Although the term’s root suggests aridity, the narrative context consistently highlights mercy, covenant, and loyalty in the midst of moral or political drought.

Geographical Setting: Jabesh-Gilead

• Situated in the hill country of Gilead, likely along the Wadi Yabis, opposite Beth-shan.
• Assigned to Manasseh yet closely linked with Gad and Reuben in trans-Jordan life.
• Proximity to Ammon made the city a frontline community, explaining its repeated appearance in military episodes.

Historical Episodes

1. The Assembly Omitted (Judges 21:8-14)

Jabesh-Gilead alone failed to join Israel at Mizpah after the atrocity at Gibeah. “No one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly” (Judges 21:9). The omission cost the city dearly: twelve thousand Israelite troops executed judgment, sparing only four hundred virgins who became wives for the surviving Benjaminites. The account underscores the gravity of covenant solidarity and the tragic ripple-effects of neglecting corporate worship.

2. The Siege and Deliverance (1 Samuel 11:1-11)

Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh. The men pleaded for terms: “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you” (1 Samuel 11:1). Nahash’s brutal demand for the right eyes of all citizens set the stage for Saul’s Spirit-empowered rescue. “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot’” (1 Samuel 11:9). Saul’s victory welded Israel behind its first king and illustrated how God raises righteous leadership to defend His people.

3. Loyalty in Death (1 Samuel 31:11-13; 2 Samuel 2:4-6; 21:12-14; 1 Chronicles 10:11-12)

When Saul’s corpse was displayed on Beth-shan’s wall, “all the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead set out, traveled through the night, and took the bodies” (1 Samuel 31:12). They burned them and buried the bones under the tamarisk at Jabesh, fasting seven days. David sent messengers: “May you be blessed of the Lord, for showing this kindness to Saul” (2 Samuel 2:5). Years later David retrieved Saul’s remains and re-interred them at Kish’s tomb (2 Samuel 21:12-14), sealing the covenant thread that linked Jabesh-Gilead with the monarchy.

4. Jabesh the Man (2 Kings 15:10, 13-14)

Shallum “son of Jabesh” assassinated Zechariah and reigned one month before Menahem ended his rule. While Scripture gives no details about Jabesh himself, the linkage of his name to his son’s regicide-sparked reign shows that noble or ignoble acts can reverberate through family lines bearing the same covenant name.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Accountability. Jabesh-Gilead’s absence at Mizpah invites reflection on the peril of disengaging from God’s assembly (Hebrews 10:24-25).
• Redemptive Deliverance. Saul’s rescue prefigures the ultimate Deliverer who frees His people from oppression (Luke 4:18-19).
• Loyal Love (חֶסֶד). The men who reclaimed Saul’s body incarnated hesed, risking life for covenant loyalty (compare John 15:13).
• Honor in Burial. The care for the dead anticipates the respect shown at Jesus’ burial by Joseph of Arimathea.

Lessons for Ministry

1. Assemble when God calls; omission invites discipline.
2. Courageous obedience can reverse national despair.
3. Genuine loyalty often involves costly, even dangerous, acts of service.
4. God remembers both failures and faithfulness, weaving them into His redemptive storyline.

Christological and Eschatological Hints

Jabesh’s rescue on the “next day” (1 Samuel 11:11) mirrors the resurrection motif—deliverance comes with the dawn. The restoration of Saul’s bones looks ahead to resurrection hope (1 Corinthians 15:42-44), signaling that no act of covenant kindness goes unnoticed by the Righteous King.

Contemporary Reflection

Modern believers, like the citizens of Jabesh-Gilead, live amid cultural and spiritual sieges. Steadfast participation in the covenant community, courageous intercession for the oppressed, and honor for the fallen remain enduring callings. Jabesh challenges the church to exchange the dryness of isolation for the refreshing solidarity of sacrificial love.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּיָבֵ֑שָׁה בְּיָבֵ֔שׁ ביבש ביבשה יָבֵ֑ישָׁה יָבֵ֔ישׁ יָבֵ֔שָׁה יָבֵ֔שׁ יָבֵ֖ישׁ יָבֵ֗ישׁ יָבֵ֣ישׁ יָבֵ֣שׁ יָבֵ֤שׁ יָבֵ֥שׁ יָבֵֽישׁ׃ יָבֵישׁ֙ יביש יביש׃ יבישה יבש יבשה מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ מיביש bə·yā·ḇê·šāh bə·yā·ḇêš bəyāḇêš bəyāḇêšāh beyaVesh beyaVeshah mî·yā·ḇêš mîyāḇêš miyaVeish yā·ḇê·šāh yā·ḇêš yāḇêš yāḇêšāh yaVeish yaVeishah yaVesh yaVeshah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Judges 21:8
HEB: אֶל־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶל־
NAS: to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.
INT: to the camp Jobesh Gilead to

Judges 21:9
HEB: אִ֔ישׁ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃
NAS: of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.
INT: one of the inhabitants Jobesh Gilead

Judges 21:10
HEB: אֶת־ יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ לְפִי־
NAS: the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge
INT: and strike the inhabitants Jobesh Gilead the edge

Judges 21:12
HEB: וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י ׀ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗ד אַרְבַּ֤ע
NAS: the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400
INT: found the inhabitants Jobesh Gilead four

Judges 21:14
HEB: חִיּ֔וּ מִנְּשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וְלֹֽא־
NAS: from the women of Jabesh-gilead; yet they were not enough
INT: had kept the women Jobesh Gilead not

1 Samuel 11:1
HEB: וַיִּ֖חַן עַל־ יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ
NAS: up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all
KJV: and all the men of Jabesh said
INT: and encamped of Jabesh Gilead said

1 Samuel 11:1
HEB: כָּל־ אַנְשֵׁ֤י יָבֵישׁ֙ אֶל־ נָחָ֔שׁ
NAS: the men of Jabesh said
INT: and all the men of Jabesh to Nahash

1 Samuel 11:3
HEB: אֵלָ֜יו זִקְנֵ֣י יָבֵ֗ישׁ הֶ֤רֶף לָ֙נוּ֙
NAS: The elders of Jabesh said
KJV: And the elders of Jabesh said
INT: about the elders of Jabesh Let seven

1 Samuel 11:5
HEB: דִּבְרֵ֖י אַנְשֵׁ֥י יָבֵֽישׁ׃
NAS: to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
KJV: him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
INT: the words of the men of Jabesh

1 Samuel 11:9
HEB: תֹֽאמְרוּן֙ לְאִישׁ֙ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֔ד מָחָ֛ר
NAS: to the men of Jabesh-gilead, 'Tomorrow,
KJV: [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
INT: shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead Tomorrow

1 Samuel 11:9
HEB: וַיַּגִּ֛ידוּ לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י יָבֵ֖ישׁ וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ׃
NAS: the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
INT: and told the men of Jabesh were glad

1 Samuel 11:10
HEB: וַֽיֹּאמְרוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יָבֵ֔ישׁ מָחָ֖ר נֵצֵ֣א
NAS: Then the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow
KJV: Therefore the men of Jabesh said,
INT: said the men of Jabesh Tomorrow will come

1 Samuel 31:11
HEB: אֵלָ֔יו יֹשְׁבֵ֖י יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד אֵ֛ת
NAS: Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard
INT: about the inhabitants Jobesh Gilead what

1 Samuel 31:12
HEB: שָׁ֑ן וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יָבֵ֔שָׁה וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם
NAS: and they came to Jabesh and burned
KJV: and came to Jabesh, and burnt
INT: of Beth-shan came to Jabesh and burned there

1 Samuel 31:13
HEB: תַֽחַת־ הָאֶ֖שֶׁל בְּיָבֵ֑שָׁה וַיָּצֻ֖מוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת
NAS: the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted
KJV: [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted
INT: under the tamarisk Jabesh and fasted seven

2 Samuel 2:4
HEB: לֵאמֹ֔ר אַנְשֵׁי֙ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who
INT: saying it was the men Jobesh Gilead who

2 Samuel 2:5
HEB: אֶל־ אַנְשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
NAS: to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said
INT: to the men Jobesh Gilead and said

2 Samuel 21:12
HEB: מֵאֵ֕ת בַּעֲלֵ֖י יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד אֲשֶׁר֩
NAS: from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who
INT: his son the men Jobesh Gilead who

2 Kings 15:10
HEB: שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־ יָבֵ֔שׁ וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ קָֽבָלְ־
NAS: the son of Jabesh conspired
KJV: the son of Jabesh conspired
INT: Shallum the son of Jabesh and struck before

2 Kings 15:13
HEB: שַׁלּ֤וּם בֶּן־ יָבֵישׁ֙ מָלַ֔ךְ בִּשְׁנַ֨ת
NAS: Shallum son of Jabesh became king
KJV: the son of Jabesh began to reign
INT: Shallum son of Jabesh became year

2 Kings 15:14
HEB: שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־ יָבֵ֖ישׁ בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן וַיְמִיתֵ֖הוּ
NAS: son of Jabesh in Samaria,
KJV: the son of Jabesh in Samaria,
INT: Shallum son of Jabesh Samaria and killed

1 Chronicles 10:11
HEB: וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ כֹּ֖ל יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד אֵ֛ת
NAS: When all Jabesh-gilead heard all
INT: heard all Jobesh Gilead all

1 Chronicles 10:12
HEB: בָּנָ֔יו וַיְבִיא֖וּם יָבֵ֑ישָׁה וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֶת־
NAS: and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried
KJV: and brought them to Jabesh, and buried
INT: of his sons and brought to Jabesh buried their bones

1 Chronicles 10:12
HEB: תַּ֤חַת הָאֵלָה֙ בְּיָבֵ֔שׁ וַיָּצ֖וּמוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת
NAS: the oak in Jabesh, and fasted
KJV: under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted
INT: under the oak Jabesh and fasted seven

24 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3003
24 Occurrences


bə·yā·ḇêš — 1 Occ.
bə·yā·ḇê·šāh — 1 Occ.
mî·yā·ḇêš — 1 Occ.
yā·ḇêš — 14 Occ.
yā·ḇê·šāh — 1 Occ.
yā·ḇêš — 5 Occ.
yā·ḇê·šāh — 1 Occ.

3002
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