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עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ

𐤏𐤉𐤍 𐤔𐤌𐤔

Eyn Shemesh

H5885 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ע-י-ן, ש-מ-ש to flow, to spring forth, sun; to shine

Definition

Proper noun designating a specific geographic location: 'Spring of the Sun' or 'Sun-Spring.' This name indicates a spring or water source associated with, dedicated to, or named for the sun. The semantic range encompasses a literal place-name for a spring and may also allude to cultic, geographic, or symbolic associations with solar worship or solar phenomena.

Semantic Range

literal place-name designating a spring called 'Sun-Spring,' geographic marker; possible reference to solar cult or symbolic association with the sun

Root / Etymology

Compound from the common noun עַיִן ('ayin, 'spring, fountain') and שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, 'sun'). Each element is transparent in biblical Hebrew, forming together a descriptive place-name. The root of עַיִן is ע-י-ן, meaning 'to flow, to spring forth,' and of שֶׁמֶשׁ is שׁ-מ-שׁ, meaning 'sun.' Thus, עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ literally means 'Spring of the Sun.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ appears in biblical texts as a geographical reference, notably as part of the tribal boundaries of Judah (Joshua 15:7) and Benjamin (Joshua 18:17). The name likely denotes a spring named for the sun, potentially reflecting ancient associations: either the spring’s exposure to sunlight, the direction it faces (e.g., eastward), or cultic significance as a site related to solar worship or rituals, a practice attested elsewhere in the ancient Near East. In contrast to other place-names like עֵין גֶּדִי ('spring of the wild goat') or עֵין רֹגֵל ('spring of the foot'), עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ sets itself apart by invoking a celestial body rather than a local feature or activity. Standard English translations often transliterate as 'En-shemesh,' possibly obscuring underlying geographic or religious significance, and 'En' in such names should be understood as 'spring.' No evidence supports later religious identities or anachronistic meanings being attached to this site during the biblical period. The association with 'Palestine' is a product of later geographic nomenclature and is not present in the biblical text itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עַיִן and שֶׁמֶשׁ; fountain of the sun; En-Shemesh, a place in Palestine; Enshemesh.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אין (ʾ-y-n) — absence, non-existence, lack, voidness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1156 בְּעָא and there is not
H369 אַיִן there is not
H370 אַיִן from where?
H371 אִין and is it not?
H575 אָן where?

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5885-01 עֵ֣ין eyn HNp En there is not 2
H5885-02 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh Sun-Spring 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5885-01 Joshua 15:7 עֵ֣ין eyn HNp En there is not
H5885-02 Joshua 15:7 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp Shemesh Sun-Spring
H5885-01 Joshua 18:17 עֵ֣ין eyn HNp En there is not
H5885-02 Joshua 18:17 שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ shemesh HNp shemesh Sun-Spring
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