Joshua 19:4
New International Version
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

New Living Translation
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

English Standard Version
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Berean Standard Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Berean Literal Bible
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

King James Bible
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

New King James Version
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

New American Standard Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, and Hormah,

NASB 1995
and Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah,

NASB 1977
and Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah,

Legacy Standard Bible
and Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah,

Amplified Bible
and Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah,

Berean Annotated Bible
Eltolad (God's generations), Bethul (dweller in God), Hormah (destruction),

Christian Standard Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

American Standard Version
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

English Revised Version
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Good News Translation
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

International Standard Version
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

NET Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

New Heart English Bible
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

World English Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

Berean Literal Bible
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

Young's Literal Translation
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Eltholad, Bethul and Harma,

Catholic Public Domain Version
and Eltolad, Bethul, and Hormah,

New American Bible
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

New Revised Standard Version
Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Eltolad, Beth-el, Hirmah,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Eluthlad and Bayth Eil and Kherma
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and Erthula, and Bula, and Herma,

Additional Translations ...



Context
Simeon's Inheritance
3Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,…

Cross References
Eltolad

Joshua 15:30
Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

1 Chronicles 4:29
Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
Bethul

1 Chronicles 4:30
Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,

1 Chronicles 4:31
Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
Hormah

Numbers 14:45
Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.

Deuteronomy 1:44
Then the Amorites who lived in the hills came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees. They routed you from Seir all the way to Hormah.

Judges 1:17
Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction. So it was called Hormah.
Joshua 15:21-32
These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, / Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, / Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, …

1 Chronicles 4:28-33
They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, / Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, / Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, …

Genesis 49:13
Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.

Deuteronomy 33:18-19
Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents. / They will call the peoples to a mountain; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they will feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

Judges 1:31-32
Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. / So the Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.

1 Kings 4:7-19
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, / and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; / Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; …

Ezekiel 48:1-7
“Now these are the names of the tribes: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion bordering the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and running on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus with Hamath to the north, and extending from the east side to the west side. / Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west. / Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west. …

Numbers 34:2-12
“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries: / Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, / cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, …

2 Samuel 24:1-9
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” / So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” / But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” …


Treasury of Scripture

And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

Eltolad

Joshua 15:30
And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

Hormah

Judges 1:17
And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

Jump to Previous
Eltolad Elto'lad Hormah
Jump to Next
Eltolad Elto'lad Hormah
Joshua 19
1. The lot of Simeon
10. of Zebulun
17. of Issachar
24. of Asher
32. of Naphtali
40. of Dan
49. The children of Israel give an inheritance to Joshua












Eltolad,

Eltolad, meaning “God’s kindred” or “God’s generation,” was one of the towns assigned to Simeon within Judah’s territory in the Negev. Simeon’s inheritance consisted largely of towns inside Judah’s larger allotment, reflecting the tribe’s comparatively small population and its close association with Judah.

Jos 15:30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
1Ch 4:29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,

Bethul,

Bethul, also known as Bethuel in some translations, was another Simeonite town in the southern region. Its name means “house of God.” Its precise site is unknown, but it belonged to the network of settlements that supported life in the dry lands of the Negev, where families depended on grazing, wells, and seasonal agriculture.

1Ch 4:30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
1Ch 4:31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim.…

Hormah,

Hormah, meaning “devotion” or “destruction,” had a troubled earlier history. Israel suffered defeat there after acting presumptuously, but later the city was conquered and devoted to destruction under God’s direction. Its inclusion in Simeon’s inheritance marked a place once associated with judgment and victory as part of Israel’s settled possession.

Num 14:45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites came down…
Deu 1:44 Then the Amorites who lived in the hills came out…
Jdg 1:17 Then the men of Judah went with their brothers…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Eltolad
A town allotted to the tribe of Simeon within the territory of Judah. Its name may mean "God's kindred" or "God's generation," reflecting a divine connection or heritage.

2. Bethul
Another town within the inheritance of Simeon. The name is similar to "Bethel," meaning "house of God," indicating a place of spiritual significance.

3. Hormah
A city with a history of conflict and victory. Originally called Zephath, it was renamed Hormah, meaning "destruction" or "devotion to destruction," after the Israelites defeated the Canaanites there.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God’s Commands
The history of Hormah reminds us of the consequences of acting outside of God's will. We must seek His guidance and obey His commands to experience victory in our lives.

Significance of Spiritual Heritage
The names and locations like Eltolad and Bethul remind us of our spiritual heritage and identity in God. We are called to live as His people, reflecting His character and purposes.

Unity and Cooperation
The joint efforts of Judah and Simeon in conquering Hormah illustrate the power of unity and cooperation among God's people. We are stronger when we work together in fulfilling God's mission.

God’s Faithfulness
The allotment of these towns to Simeon is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the tribes of Israel. We can trust in His faithfulness in our own lives.

Spiritual Warfare
The renaming of Zephath to Hormah signifies the spiritual battles we face. We are called to devote ourselves to God and rely on His strength to overcome challenges.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 19:4?

2. How does Joshua 19:4 illustrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel?

3. What can we learn from the allocation of land to tribes in Joshua 19:4?

4. How does Joshua 19:4 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15?

5. How can we apply the concept of divine inheritance from Joshua 19:4 today?

6. Why is understanding tribal boundaries in Joshua 19:4 important for biblical history?

7. What is the significance of the cities listed in Joshua 19:4 for the tribe of Simeon?

8. How does Joshua 19:4 reflect the historical accuracy of Israel's tribal boundaries?

9. Why are specific cities mentioned in Joshua 19:4, and what do they represent?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 19?


Joshua 19:4 is more than a checklist; each name marks the faithfulness of God in physical geography.

• Eltolad shows scattered Simeon securely planted.

• Bethul confirms inheritance promises down to individual dwellings.

• Hormah transforms a place of defeat into lasting legacy.

Together they affirm that every square mile of promised land, and every believer’s portion today, rests on the unchanging word of the Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Eltolad,
וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד (wə·’el·tō·w·laḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 513: Eltolad -- 'God is generator', a city in southern Judah

Bethul,
וּבְת֖וּל (ū·ḇə·ṯūl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1329: Bethul -- a place in Simeon

Hormah,
וְחָרְמָֽה׃ (wə·ḥā·rə·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2767: Hormah -- 'asylum', a place in Simeon


Additonal Resources
Joshua 19:4 Blue Letter Bible
Joshua 19:4 Bible Gateway
Joshua 19:4 Bible.com

Joshua 19:4 NIV
Joshua 19:4 NLT
Joshua 19:4 ESV
Joshua 19:4 NASB
Joshua 19:4 KJV

Joshua 19:4 Study Bible
Joshua 19:4 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 19:4 Chinese Bible
Joshua 19:4 French Bible
Joshua 19:4 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 19:4 Eltolad Bethul Hormah (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 19:3
Top of Page
Top of Page