Lexical Definition

‎נֶגֶב‎ negeb (neh'-gheb) Negeb ^N:N--L
from an unused root meaning to be parched

south (country, side, -ward).

• the south (from its drought)
• specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine)

1) south-country, Nekeb, south
1a) south-country
1a1) region of southern Judah, boundaries not specific
1b) south

See Greek: ἔρημος · λίψ · μεσημβρία · νότος

Extended Information

• region of southern Judah
• Also named: ne.gev (‎נ‎ֶ֫‎ג‎ֶ‎ב‎ "south" נֶגֶב)
• This name means south-country

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎נֶ֫גֶב‎ noun [masculine]] south-country, Negeb, south (compare Lag^{BN 78}); — ‎׳‎‎נ‎ absolute Gen 20:1 +; construct Josh 11:2 +; ‎נֶ֫גְבָּה‎ Gen 13:14 +; —

1. south-country, i.e.
a. specifically the region south of Judah, boundaries not exactly defined (see cities in it Josh 15:21-32), but with from hills south of Hebron to Kadesh, ‎׳‎‎אֶרֶץ הַנּ‎ Gen 20:1 (E), Gen 24:62 (J), Num 13:29 (JE), Judg 1:15; Josh 15:19 almost = proper name ‎׳‎‎הַנּ‎, ‎הַנֶּ֫גְבָּה‎, Gen 12:9; Gen 13:1; Num 13:17; Num 13:22; Num 21:1 (all J), Deut 34:3 (JE), Deut 1:7; Josh 10:40; Josh 11:16; Josh 12:8 (all D), Num 33:40; Josh 15:21 (both P), Judg 1:9; 1Sam 20:41 (but read ‎הָאַרְגָּב‎, i.e. the mound ᵐ5 (ἀργαβ) Th We Klo Dr Kit Bu HPS), Jer 13:19; Jer 17:26; Jer 32:44; Jer 33:13; Zech 7:7; Obad 1:20; Ps 126:4 (simile), Ezek 21:3*a (= Judah); ‎׳‎‎נ‎ (no article) Gen 13:3 (J), 1Sam 30:1; Isa 30:6 (compare Di); of particular districts in the Negeb: ‎עֲרָד‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Judg 1:16 (compare GFM), ‎יהוּדָה‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ etc. 1Sam 27:10 (3 t. in verse) (compare Dr), 1Sam 30:14 (twice in verse); 2Sam 24:7; 2Chr 28:18 see also Zech 14:10 ‎׳‎‎רָמַת נ‎ Josh 19:8, ‎׳‎‎רָמוֺת נ‎ 1Sam 30:27 collective with plural verb = people of south-land Obad 1:19.
b. land south of Babylon Isa 21:1 (compare Di).
c. = Egypt Dan 11:5; Dan 11:6; Dan 11:9; Dan 11:14; Dan 11:15; Dan 11:25 (twice in verse); Dan 11:29; Dan 11:40 (see Meinh Bev Behrm, compare vDan 11:43).

2. hence south (opposed to north, east, west) Gen 13:14; Gen 28:14 (both J), Josh 17:10 (P), 1Kgs 7:25 = 2Chr 4:4; 1Chr 9:24; 1Chr 26:15; 1Chr 26:17 (compare v1Chr 26:14 v1Chr 26:16 v1Chr 26:18), Ezek 21:3*b; Ezek 21:9*; Dan 8:4; Dan 8:9, further 1Kgs 7:39; Zech 14:4 ‎פְּאַת‎ ‎נֶ֫גְבָּה תֵּימָ֫נָה‎ Exod 26:18, compare Exod 27:9; Exod 36:23; Exod 38:9; Exod 40:24 (of south side of tabernacle); ‎׳‎‎שַׁ֫עַר נ‎ Ezek 46:9 (twice in verse); ‎׳‎‎פְּאַת נ‎ south side or border Num 34:3; Num 35:5; Josh 18:15 (all P), Ezek 47:19, cf vEzek 47:19; Ezek 48:16; Ezek 48:28; Ezek 48:33 ‎׳‎‎גְּבוּל נ‎ south boundary Num 34:3; Josh 15:2; Josh 15:4; Josh 18:19 (all P), compare ‎מִנֶּ֫גֶב לְ‎ (‎הַגְּבוּל‎) on the south of Num 34:4 (twice in verse); Josh 15:3 (‎לְ‎ ‎׳‎‎אֶלמִֿנּ‎), vJosh 15:3 vJosh 15:7; Josh 18:3 (all P), Judg 21:19 ‎׳‎‎מִנּ‎ absolute on the south Josh 18:5 (JE), Josh 19:34 (P), 1Sam 14:5; Ezek 40:2 ‎׳‎‎כֶּ֫תֶף הַיְבוּסִי מִנּ‎ Josh 15:8, compare Josh 18:13; Josh 18:16 (all P); ‎נֶ֫גְבָּה‎ Josh 15:1; Josh 15:2; Josh 18:14 (twice in verse); Josh 18:19 (all P), 2Chr 4:10; Ezek 21:2* (Co; HCT ‎נגב‎) Ezek 48:10; Ezek 48:17 ‎נֶ֫גְבָּה לְ‎ Josh 17:9 (P). — For ‎בִּנְּרוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Josh 11:2 read ‎נֶגֶד‎ (ᵐ5 Di).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Negeb • The southern region of Israel, a semi-arid area

The Negeb, meaning "south," refers to the semi-arid region in the southern part of Israel.

• A location first mentioned at Gen.12.9;
• referred to as Negeb or Negeb (KJV, NIV= "south") or "south" (NIV= Negev) נֶגֶב.
  

The Negeb, meaning "south" in Hebrew, refers to the semi-arid region in the southern part of Israel, extending from the Judean hills to the Arabian Desert. It is characterized by its dry climate and sparse vegetation. In the Bible, the Negeb is often mentioned in relation to the patriarchs, the Exodus, and the conquest of Canaan (Gen. 12:9; 13:1; 20:1; 24:62; Num. 13:17, 22; 21:1; Deut. 1:7; 34:3; Josh. 10:40; 11:16; 12:8).

The Negeb was allotted to the tribes of Judah and Simeon (Josh. 15:21; 19:8). It served as a refuge for David when he fled from Saul (1 Sam. 27:10; 30:1, 14). The region is also mentioned in prophetic texts, often in the context of God's judgment or restoration (Isa. 21:1; 30:6; Jer. 13:19; 17:26; 32:44; 33:13; Obad. 1:19-20; Zech. 7:7).

All entries for Negeb or south: נֶגֶב