Though this may have been the Bethlehem of Judah, it was probably the Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, the present Beit Lahm, 7 mi. (11.2 km.) northwest of Nazareth (see Joshua 19:15, 16).

 Ibzan, along with the other two judges mentioned here, Elon and Abdon, and the two whose names are given in ch. 10:1-5, Tola and Jair, form a group of judges of whose exploits nothing is related. The briefest details about them are given: their names, where they lived, how long they ruled, the place of their burial. In the case of three of them (Jair, Ibzan, and Abdon) the number of their children and evidence of their wealth are added.

The meaning of this name is unknown. It occurs in the Bible only in this place.