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עַצְמוֹן

𐤏𐤑𐤌𐤅𐤍

Atsemon

H6111 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עצם to be strong, to be mighty, to be hard, bone

Definition

A proper noun referring to a specific site in the southern borderland of Canaan, likely near the wilderness and the southwestern boundary of the territory assigned to the Israelite tribes. The name may carry the connotation of 'strength' or 'sturdiness' as suggested by the root meaning, reflecting perhaps some notable physical feature of the location such as rocky terrain or prominent outcrops. In biblical usage, עַצְמוֹן refers to a landmark bordering the allocation of land to the tribes, not to a person or concept.

Semantic Range

proper noun: border site, rocky or strong place; as a toponym: physical border landmark, possibly signifying a hard or prominent physical feature

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עֶצֶם ('ʿeṣem'), meaning 'bone,' which connotes strength, hardness, or solidity. The suffix suggests a place-name formation: thus, עַצְמוֹן ('Atsmon') is probably descriptive, meaning 'strong place' or 'bony/rocky place.' The formation of proper toponyms from roots indicating physical characteristics is common in Hebrew. Root: ע-צ-ם.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עַצְמוֹן appears exclusively as a geographical marker delineating the southern border of Canaan (Numbers 34:4-5; Joshua 15:4). Its exact location is uncertain, but it is identified as a point on the westernmost southern frontier, near the Wadi of Egypt (often equated with a seasonal riverbed or watercourse leading toward Egypt). The translation 'Azmon' persists in many English Bibles, but without an established non-biblical attestation, the precise site is unknown. The association with 'bone' in the name may reflect visual or topographical features (i.e., stony outcroppings), but this is speculative. Some early translations and commentaries equate 'Azmon' with border fortresses or waypoints, but archaeological corroboration is lacking. The term never refers to an ethnic or religious identity, and later renderings as 'Azmon' do not imply any such association.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עַצְמֹן; from עֶצֶם; bone-like; Atsmon, a place near Palestine; Azmon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עצם (ʿ-ṣ-m) — strength, hardness, bone, solidity

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6099 עָצוּם mighty
H6105 עָצַם you grew mighty
H6106 עֶצֶם my bones
H6108 עֹצֶם my might
H6109 עׇצְמָה mightiness

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6111-01 עַצְמֹֽנָ/ה atsemonah HNp/Sd to Azmon to Strong-Place 2
H6111-02 מֵ/עַצְמ֖וֹן meatsemon HR/Np from Azmon from Strong-Place 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6111-01 Numbers 34:4 עַצְמֹֽנָ/ה atsemonah HNp/Sd to Azmon to Strong-Place
H6111-02 Numbers 34:5 מֵ/עַצְמ֖וֹן meatsemon HR/Np from Azmon from Strong-Place
H6111-01 Joshua 15:4 עַצְמ֗וֹנָ/ה atsemonah HNp/Sd to Azmon to Strong-Place
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