חֲצַר עֵינוֹן
𐤇𐤑𐤓 𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤍
Chatsar Eynon
H2703 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym meaning 'enclosure (or settlement) of Enon' or 'settlement of springs', designating a specific locality on the northern border of the Israelite tribal allotment. The term references a settlement or habitation associated with a spring or springs, and is found as a boundary marker in the territorial descriptions in the book of Ezekiel and Numbers. Semantic range includes: a specific border settlement or village associated with a spring, and by extension the geographic limit or point referenced in territorial boundaries.
Semantic Range
settlement with a spring, enclosure by a spring, village of Enon, boundary marker settlement, specific toponym on the northern border of ancient Israelite territory
Root / Etymology
Compound toponym formed from חֲצַר (ḥaṣar, 'settlement, enclosure, courtyard') and עֵינוֹן (Êynōn, likely based on עַיִן ‘ayin, 'spring, fountain'), with the latter in a proper noun form. The meaning is 'settlement/enclosure of (the) Enon/springs'. The first component (חָצֵר) denotes a small habitation or farmstead. The second element reflects the presence of water: 'spring(s)'. Neither element is unique to this compound, but together they create a site name indicating a settlement near notable water sources. This underlying root meaning is adapted to the geographical and toponymic sense in biblical usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן appears in the Hebrew Bible as a specific place name, notably as a landmark on the northern border assigned to Israelite territories (Numbers 34:9, Ezekiel 47:17, 48:1). Its identification with a known modern site is uncertain. The term draws on common elements in Israelite place names, using חָצֵר to signify a small village or walled enclosure and עֵין/עַיִן for a natural spring; thus 'settlement of Enon/spring(s)'. In English translations (e.g., KJV, NIV) the name is usually rendered 'Hazar-enon', following the Septuagint's Greek rendering (Aserainon or Asara Enon) and Vulgate. The use of 'village of springs' in older glosses captures only part of the meaning; in fact, it denotes a settlement marked by the presence of a particular spring, significant for marking borders in ancient territorial assignments. There is no evidence the site held particular religious or cultic status in Israelite tradition. The name structure parallels other biblical toponyms combining חָצֵר + feature (e.g., חֲצַר שׁוּעַל, 'Hazar-shual': 'settlement of the fox').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָצֵר and a derivative of עַיִן; village of springs; Chatsar-Enon, a place in Palestine; Hazar-enon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חצר (ḥ-ṣ-r) — enclose, surround, fence in, form a court or settlement
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1178 | בַּעַל חָצוֹר | Hazor Enclosed-Settlement |
| H2674 | חָצוֹר | in Hazor |
| H2681 | חָצִיר | enclosed courtyard |
| H2682 | חָצִיר | field herbage |
| H2689 | חֲצֹצְרָה | in the silver trumpets |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2703-01 |
חֲצַ֤ר | chatsar | HNp |
Hazar | enclosed court of | 1 |
H2703-02 |
עֵינוֹן֙ | eynon | HNp |
Enan | Settlement of Springs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2703-01 |
Ezekiel 47:17 | חֲצַ֤ר | chatsar | HNp |
Hazar | enclosed court of |
H2703-02 |
Ezekiel 47:17 | עֵינוֹן֙ | eynon | HNp |
Enan | Settlement of Springs |