10 The name תַּבְעֵרָה (tav’erah) is given to the spot as a commemorative of the wilderness experience. It is explained by the formula using the same verbal root, “to burn.” Such naming narratives are found dozens of times in the OT, and most frequently in the Pentateuch. The explanation is seldom an exact etymology, and so in the literature is called a popular etymology. It is best to explain the connection as a figure of speech, a paronomasia, which is a phonetic wordplay that may or may not be etymologically connected. Usually the name is connected to the explanation by a play on the verbal root—here the preterite explaining the noun. The significance of commemorating the place by such a device is to “burn” it into the memory of Israel. The narrative itself would be remembered more easily by the name and its motif. The namings in the wilderness wanderings remind the faithful of unbelief, and warn us all not to murmur as they murmured. See further A. P. Ross, “Paronomasia and Popular Etymologies in the Naming Narrative of the Old Testament,” Ph.D. diss., University of Cambridge, 1982.

In other versions

So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.

So that place was named Taberah, because the Lord’s fire had blazed among them.

After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the Lord had burned among them there.

And he called the name of that place Taberah because the fire of Yahweh burned among them.

And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.

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