Zebulon
/ˈzɛbjələn/noun
A biblical patriarch, the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, whose name was given to one of the tribes of Israel.
Did you know?Genesis gives Zebulon a folk explanation as a name associated with dwelling, while some scholars connect it to an older Northwest Semitic title meaning “honor” or “exalted place.”
Etymological Timeline
2nd millennium BCE
Northwest Semitic
zbl
“A debated Semitic root associated with exaltation, honor, or a dwelling place”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
זְבוּלֻן (Zevulun)
“The personal name Zebulon; Genesis links it by wordplay with dwelling or honor”
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Greek
Ζαβουλών (Zaboulōn)
“Greek rendering of the Hebrew tribal and personal name”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Zabulon
“Latin biblical form of the name”
Old English
English
Zabulon
“Biblical name transmitted through Latin religious texts”
Modern English
English
Zebulon
“Traditional English form of the biblical name, also used as a personal name and place name”