עֵין רֹגֵל
𐤏𐤉𐤍 𐤓𐤂𐤋
Eyn Rogel
H5883 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name referring to a specific spring located near Jerusalem, situated at the juncture of the Valley of Hinnom and the Valley of Kidron; literally 'spring of the spy' or 'spring of the foot traveler.' The term does not simply denote any spring, but a particular, historically significant water source often associated with boundary demarcation or clandestine activity. In narrative contexts, the name encapsulates both the physical feature (spring/fountain) and its potential function (as a location associated with reconnaissance or watchfulness).
Semantic Range
En-Rogel (proper place name); spring associated with reconnaissance, spring of the spy, spring of the traveler, boundary spring, location of clandestine activity
Root / Etymology
From the root עין ('ayin, "spring, creek, well") and the active participle of רגל (ragal, "to walk on foot, spy, investigate"), the composite name עֵין רֹגֵל (ʻÊyn Rôgêl) literally means 'spring of the spy/foot traveler.' The toponym likely originated to denote a natural water source that was associated either with those who walked (travelers/messengers) or with spies/scouts, reflecting its function as a discreet meeting or observation point.
Historical & Contextual Notes
En-Rogel occurs primarily as a toponym. It is referenced in Joshua 15:7 and 18:16 when delineating territorial boundaries among the Israelite tribes, and in 2 Samuel 17:17 and 1 Kings 1:9, where it serves as a strategic rendezvous point for information gathering or political intrigue in Jerusalem's vicinity during the monarchic period. Later tradition and some English translations render the phrase simply as 'En-rogel,' but such renderings risk obscuring its etymological sense. Unlike other water-site names in biblical geography, En-Rogel bears connotations of secretive or liminal activity due to the rōgēl component ('spy, scout, messenger'). The site probably functioned as a natural marker as well as a place of covert communication during the monarchy. Modern identifications usually locate En-Rogel near the junction of the Hinnom and Kidron valleys, southeast of ancient Jerusalem. The name's components distinguish it from general geographic terms for wells or springs by emphasizing associated human activity (spying, traveling by foot), in contrast with neutral names like עֵין גֶּדִי ('Ein-Gedi, 'spring of the kid/young goat').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עַיִן and the active participle of רָגַל; fountain of a traveller; En-Rogel, a place near Jerusalem; En-rogel.
Bantu Hebrew
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עין רגל (ʿ-y-n; r-g-l) — spring, well, eye; to walk on foot, to spy out, to reconnoiter
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5883-03 |
רֹגֵֽל | rogel | HNp |
Rogel | Spy-Spring | 4 |
H5883-02 |
עֵ֥ין | eyn | HNp |
En | there is not | 3 |
H5883-01 |
בְּ/עֵין | beeyn | HR/Np |
at En | at Spring of the Spy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5883-02 |
Joshua 15:7 | עֵ֥ין | eyn-2 | HNp |
En | there is not |
H5883-03 |
Joshua 15:7 | רֹגֵֽל | rogel | HNp |
Rogel | Spy-Spring |
H5883-02 |
Joshua 18:16 | עֵ֥ין | eyn | HNp |
spring of | there is not |
H5883-03 |
Joshua 18:16 | רֹגֵֽל | rogel | HNp |
Rog el | Spy-Spring |
H5883-01 |
2 Samuel 17:17 | בְּ/עֵין | beeyn | HR/Np |
at En | at Spring of the Spy |
H5883-03 |
2 Samuel 17:17 | רֹגֵ֗ל | rogel | HNp |
Rogel | Spy-Spring |
H5883-02 |
1 Kings 1:9 | עֵ֣ין | eyn | HNp |
En | there is not |
H5883-03 |
1 Kings 1:9 | רֹגֵ֑ל | rogel | HNp |
rogel | Spy-Spring |