Original Word: דִּנְהָבָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Dinhabah
Pronunciation: din-haw-baw'
Phonetic Spelling: (din-haw-baw')
KJV: Dinhaban
NASB: Dinhabah
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Dinhabah, an Edomitish town

Dinhaban

Of uncertain derivation; Dinhabah, an Edomitish town -- Dinhaban.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a city in Edom
NASB Translation
Dinhabah (2).

דִּנְהָ֑בָה proper name, of a location capital city of king Bela in Edom Genesis 36:32 = 1 Chronicles 1:43; identification with Tennib (perhaps = Thenib, near the edge of the Belka, east-northeast from Heshbon, described by Tristr^{Moab 222}) by Neubauer^{Acad. 1891, 260} compare Tomkins^{ib. 284}.

דָּנִיֵּאל see דָּנִאֵל below דין.

דֵּעַ, דֵּעָה see below ידע.

(רְעוּאֵל) דְּעוּאֵל see below ידע, רעה.

Scriptural Occurrences and Setting

Dinhabah appears twice in the Old Testament, both times in lists that outline the earliest known kings of Edom. Genesis 36:32 records, “Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah”, and 1 Chronicles 1:43 repeats the same notice. These passages come within genealogical and historical sections that trace the line of Esau and underscore the emergence of Edom as a distinct political entity neighboring Israel.

Geographic and Archaeological Considerations

While Scripture offers no precise coordinates, Dinhabah is associated with the territory southeast of the Dead Sea where Edom flourished. Archaeologists have proposed several possible sites east of the Arabah, yet none has been definitively confirmed. The city’s mention alongside Bela’s reign suggests it was more than a village; it likely functioned as Bela’s administrative seat, giving it regional prominence in early Iron Age Edom.

Historical Significance in Edomite Chronology

The lists in Genesis and Chronicles present a succession of eight Edomite kings who ruled “before any king reigned over the Israelites” (Genesis 36:31). Dinhabah therefore belongs to a formative period in Edom’s nationhood, preceding Israel’s united monarchy by several generations. The notice establishes that Edom had achieved centralized leadership and urban organization early in its history, a fact that illuminates later political tensions between Edom and Israel (for example, Numbers 20:14–21; 2 Kings 8:20–22).

Theological and Ministry Insights

1. God’s Sovereign Order. The inclusion of Dinhabah in the inspired genealogies testifies to the orderly unfolding of redemptive history. By naming Edomite kings and their cities, Scripture affirms that God oversees all nations, not only Israel (Psalm 22:28).
2. Fulfillment of Prophetic Word. The emergence of Dinhabah under Bela fulfills Genesis 25:23, where God foretold that two nations would arise from Rebekah’s womb and that the older (Edom) would serve the younger (Israel). The passage displays Edom’s early ascendancy, setting the stage for later reversals in accordance with divine promise.
3. Warning Against Pride. Obadiah later condemns Edom’s arrogance. Dinhabah’s early stature reminds readers that earthly prominence can foster self-reliance apart from God, a temptation believers must resist (Proverbs 16:18).
4. Encouragement for Believers. The detailed record of even obscure places like Dinhabah assures Christians that God remembers and records all things accurately. This undergirds confidence in Scripture’s reliability and in God’s attentive care over every place and person (Matthew 10:29–31).

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

• Historical data in Scripture, however brief, carries theological weight.
• National rise and decline lie within God’s providence; believers can trust His overarching plan.
• Ministries today may seem small or remote, yet God assigns enduring significance to each sphere of service—just as a little-known city like Dinhabah earned a place in His Word.

דִּנְהָֽבָה׃ דנהבה׃ din·hā·ḇāh dinhāḇāh dinHavahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts