Bible Dictionaries
Jabbok

Holman Bible Dictionary

(jab' bahk) Place name meaning, “flowing.” River near which Jacob wrestled through the night with God (Genesis 32:22 ). Its modern name is Nahr ez-Zerqa. It is a tributary of the Jordan, joining the larger river from the east about fifteen miles north of the Dead Sea. In biblical times various sections of its approximately 50-mile course served as the western boundary of Ammon, the boundary between the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, and a division in the territory of Gilead. The existence of numerous tells points to a dense population in the Jabbok Valley in ancient times. See Jacob .