Gibeonite

American

[gib-ee-uh-nahyt] / ˈgɪb i əˌnaɪt /

noun

(in the Bible) one of the inhabitants of Gibeon, who were condemned by Joshua to be hewers of wood and drawers of water for the Israelites.

Gibeonite British

/ ˈɡɪbɪəˌnaɪt /

noun

Old Testament one of the inhabitants of the town of Gibeon, who were compelled by Joshua to serve the Hebrews (Joshua 9)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Gibeonite

Gibeon + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gibeonite, gib′ē-on-īt, n. a slave's slave—from Josh., ix.

From Project Gutenberg

"Needs must there be a division of men; Hewer of wood is the Gibeonite, Cutter of stone in the quarries, and then Slave to the Covenant-Israelite."

From Project Gutenberg

This was but one of the earlier crises in the financial experience which led Franklin to say that his seemed to be the Gibeonite task of drawing water for all the congregation of Israel.

From Project Gutenberg

With such rollicking fun, did Franklin, beguile his Gibeonite tasks.

From Project Gutenberg

When it is remembered how Saul had attempted to extirpate the Gibeonites, and how bitter a blood feud the latter entertained against his house in consequence, it becomes very significant that the murderers of his son were men of this Gibeonite town.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023