The Hebrew word זְבוּלוּן (Zebulun), corresponding to Strong's number H2074, is primarily the name of Jacob's (Israel's) tenth son and the sixth son he had with Leah. The meaning and etymology of this name are explained directly in the Bible.
or זְבֻלוּן Zebulun; or זְבוּלֻן Zebulun; from H2082; habitation; Zebulun, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe: Zebulun.
"And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob a sixth son. And Leah said, God hath given me a good gift (זָבָד - zabad); now shall my husband dwell (זָבַל - zabal) with me, because I have borne him six sons." So she called his name Zebulun (זְבוּלוּן)."
As we see, the name combines two Hebrew roots:
זָבַד (zabad) - "to endow," "to bestow a gift" (from which comes "good gift" - זֵבֶד טוֹב, zebed tov)
זָבַל (zabal) - "to dwell," "to abide," "to honor with presence"
Thus, the name זְבוּלוּן (Zebulun) conveys the idea of "dwelling" or "habitation," with Leah's expectation that her husband Jacob would now "dwell" or live more steadily with her because of the six sons she had borne him.
Significance in the Biblical Context
In the broader biblical context, Zebulun has several important dimensions:
1. As a Tribal Patriarch
Zebulun became the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the patriarchal blessings:
Jacob's Blessing (
Genesis 49:13): "Zebulun shall dwell at the havens of the sea; he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be as far as Sidon." This blessing emphasizes the geographical location associated with this tribe, near the sea.
Moses' Blessing (
Deuteronomy 33:18-19): "To Zebulun he said, 'Rejoice, Zebulun, when you go forth; and you, Issachar, in your tents... They shall call the peoples to their mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness, and they shall suck in the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand.'" Here the tribe's commercial and maritime prosperity is highlighted.
2. As Tribal Territory
The tribe of Zebulun received its territory in the distribution of land under Joshua (
Joshua 19:10-16). This region was located in the northern part of Israel, between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean, although it did not directly touch either sea. It bordered:
Asher to the west
Naphtali to the east
Issachar to the south
3. Historical and Prophetic Significance
In the Song of Deborah (
Judges 5:18), Zebulun is praised for his courage in battle.
Isaiah 9:1-2 mentions the "land of Zebulun" as a place where a great light would shine, a passage that in
Matthew 4:15-16 is interpreted as fulfilling Jesus' ministry in Galilee.
In
Revelation 7:8, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun are singled out among the 144,000. The name Zebulun, with its meaning of "dwelling place" or "habitation," also connects thematically with broader biblical concepts of God's dwelling presence among his people, although this connection is more implicit than explicit in the texts.