עֵין רִמּוֹן
𐤏𐤉𐤍 𐤓𐤌𐤅𐤍
Eyn Rimon
H5884 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
En-Rimmon is a proper noun designating a specific location, signifying 'Spring of Rimmon' or 'Spring of the Pomegranate.' It consistently refers to a settlement or site, most likely named after a prominent natural spring associated with either the pomegranate tree or a deity, person, or clan called Rimmon. In biblical references, it identifies a town in the territorial allotment of Judah and later occupied by returning exiles. The construction of the name indicates both a natural water source and a notable feature or namesake characterizing the settlement.
Semantic Range
spring of Rimmon, fountain of the pomegranate, settlement associated with a spring, place-name referring to a spring and a local feature (tree, deity, person)
Root / Etymology
Constructed from two Hebrew nouns: עַיִן (ayin, 'spring, fountain') and רִמּוֹן (rimmon, 'pomegranate,' but also attested as a personal name and deity). The name forms a genitive construction: 'spring of Rimmon' or 'spring of the pomegranate.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
En-Rimmon is attested as a town within the territory of Judah, specifically in the Negev, and is mentioned in Joshua 15:32, 19:7, Nehemiah 11:29, and 1 Chronicles 4:32. In the monarchic biblical period, it marked part of the southern border of Judahite territory. During the post-exilic era, the settlement is listed among those re-inhabited by returning groups, indicating continuity or restoration of settlement. In the biblical text, the name likely designates a natural spring as the focal point of the locality, with 'Rimmon' potentially referencing a local deity, an ancestral clan, or the abundance of pomegranate trees in the area. The standard English rendering ('En-rimmon') is a transliteration and does not convey the semantic sense of 'spring of Rimmon.' English versions sometimes gloss over the underlying reference to the pomegranate or the proper name. Related compound toponyms (like Ein-Gedi) also combine a natural feature and a distinctive local element, reflecting settlement patterns anchored in water sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עַיִן and רִמּוֹן; fountain of a pomegranate; En-Rimmon, a place in Palestine; En-rimmon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רמן (r-m-n) — pomegranate, fruitfulness, abundance
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1910 | הֲדַדְרִמּוֹן | Pomegranate |
| H7416 | רִמּוֹן | Pomegranate-One |
| H7417 | רִמּוֹן | the Pomegranate-one |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5884-01 |
רִמּ֛וֹן | rimon | HNp |
Rimmon | Pomegranate-One | 1 |
H5884-02 |
וּ/בְ/עֵ֥ין | uveeyn | HC/R/Np |
and in En | and in Spring-of-Rimmon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5884-02 |
Nehemiah 11:29 | וּ/בְ/עֵ֥ין | uveeyn | HC/R/Np |
and in En | and in Spring-of-Rimmon |
H5884-01 |
Nehemiah 11:29 | רִמּ֛וֹן | rimon | HNp |
Rimmon | Pomegranate-One |