Genesis 30:20

30:20 Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. ¹ 

Deuteronomy 33:18-19

Blessing on Zebulun and Issachar

33:18 Of Zebulun he said:

Rejoice, Zebulun, when you go outside,

and Issachar, when you are in your tents.

33:19 They will summon peoples to the mountain,

there they will sacrifice proper ²  sacrifices;

for they will enjoy ³  the abundance of the seas,

and the hidden treasures of the shores. ⁴ 

Joshua 19:10-16

Zebulun’s Tribal Lands

19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun ⁵  by its clans. The border of their territory ⁶  extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near ⁷  Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward ⁸  to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. 19:13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. 19:14 It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 19:15 Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; ⁹  in all they had twelve cities and their towns. ¹⁰  19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun ¹¹  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

[30:20]  ¹ sn The name Zebulun (זְבֻלוּן, zevulun) apparently means “honor.” The name plays on the verb used in the statement made earlier in the verse. The Hebrew verb translated “will honor” and the name Zebulun derive from the same root.

[33:19]  ² tn Or “acceptable”; Heb “righteous” (so NASB).

[33:19]  ³ tn Heb “suck.”

[33:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “of the sand” (so NRSV, NLT); CEV “the sandy beach.”

[19:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”

[19:10]  ⁶ tn Or “inheritance.”

[19:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”

[19:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”

[19:15]  ⁹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[19:15]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, twelve cities and their towns.” The words “their territory included” and “in all they had” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[19:16]  ¹¹ tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”