Jebusites יְבוּסִי
Canaanite tribe inhabiting Jerusalem before David's conquest
Who is Jebusites in the Bible?
The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe descended from Canaan, the grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:16, 15:21), who inhabited Jerusalem and the surrounding territory before the Israelite conquest. When God called the Israelites out of Egypt, he promised to drive out the Jebusites along with other Canaanite nations and give their land to Israel (Exodus 3:8, 13:5, 23:23). Despite being among the tribes the Israelites were commanded to destroy during the conquest under Joshua (Deuteronomy 7:1, 20:17), the Jebusites proved difficult to dislodge and maintained control of Jerusalem for centuries (Joshua 15:63, Judges 1:21). It was not until King David's reign that the Jebusites were finally conquered and their stronghold in Jerusalem was taken as the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:6-8, 1 Chronicles 11:4-6). The Jebusites' presence and eventual defeat mark a crucial transition in Israel's settlement of the promised land and the establishment of Jerusalem as Israel's royal and spiritual center.
Biography
The Jebusites were one of the Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land promised to the Israelites by God. They are first mentioned in Gen.10.16 and Gen.15.21 as descendants of Canaan, the grandson of Noah. When the Israelites left Egypt, God promised to drive out the Jebusites and other Canaanite tribes from the land (Exo.3.8, 17; 13.5; 23.23; 33.2; 34.11). During the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the Jebusites were among the tribes that the Israelites were commanded to utterly destroy (Deu.7.1; 20.17). However, the Jebusites proved to be formidable opponents, and the Israelites were unable to completely drive them out of Jerusalem (Jos.15.63; Jdg.1.21). The Jebusites continued to live among the Israelites during the time of the judges (Jdg.3.5; 19.11). It was not until the reign of King David that the Jebusites were finally defeated, and Jerusalem was captured and made the capital of Israel (2Sa.5.6-8; 1Ch.11.4-6). After their defeat, some Jebusites remained in the land and were subjected to forced labor by Solomon (1Ki.9.20; 2Ch.8.7). The site where the temple was built, Mount Moriah, was purchased by David from Araunah the Jebusite (2Sa.24.16-18; 1Ch.21.15-28; 2Ch.3.1). The Jebusites are mentioned among the foreign peoples with whom the Israelites intermarried, contrary to God's command (Ezr.9.1). In Zec.9.7, there is a prophetic promise that the Jebusites will be incorporated into God's people, symbolizing the inclusion of Gentiles in the future messianic kingdom.
Family
Siblings
- Sidon Early PatriarchSon of CanaanFirstborn son of Canaan, ancestor of the Sidonians.View full profile →
- Heth Early PatriarchSon of CanaanSon of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites.View full profile →
- Amorites Early PatriarchCanaanitesCanaanite people group, enemies of IsraelView full profile →
- Girgashites Early PatriarchCanaanitesA Canaanite people group living in the Promised Land.View full profile →
- Hivites Early PatriarchCanaanitesA Canaanite people group.View full profile →
- Arkites Early PatriarchCanaanitesCanaanite people group descended from CanaanView full profile →
- Sinites Early PatriarchCanaanitesCanaanite people group descended from Canaan.View full profile →
- Arvadites Early PatriarchCanaanitesCanaanite descendants of Canaan, son of HamView full profile →
- Zemarites Early PatriarchCanaanitesCanaanite people groupView full profile →
- Hamathites Early PatriarchCanaanitesA Canaanite people group descended from Canaan.View full profile →
In Scripture
13 biblical books ; 6 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 10:16
"the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 15:21
"Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”"
Study Genesis →
Exodus 5 verses
- Exodus 3:8
"I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 3:17
"And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 13:5
"And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the land He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you shall keep this service in this month."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 23:23
"For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 33:2
"And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."
Study Exodus →
Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 13:29
"The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”"
Deuteronomy 2 verses
- Deuteronomy 7:1
"When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—"
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 20:17
"For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,"
Study Deuteronomy →
Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 3:10
"He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 9:1
"Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 11:3
"to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 12:8
"the hill country, the foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev—the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 15:63
"But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah."
Study Joshua →
Judges 3 verses
- Judges 1:21
"The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites."
- Judges 3:5
"Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."
- Judges 19:11
"When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Please, let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | יְבוּסִי | yĕbûsiy | a Jebusite or inhabitant of Jebus |