תִּמְנָה
𐤕𐤌𐤍𐤄
Timenah
H8553 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper place name, 'Timnah' refers to several geographical locations in the southern Levant, mainly associated with the Shephelah and hill country regions historically inhabited by Canaanites, Philistines, and Israelites. In biblical contexts, Timnah is notable as a location involved in narratives concerning the patriarch Judah and later the judge Samson. The term itself functions as a toponym and does not carry the sense of 'assigned portion' in these textual references.
Semantic Range
proper place name (Timnah); location associated with Judahite territory; region of Philistine-Canaanite contact; toponym related to portions or allocations in ancient territorial divisions
Root / Etymology
The word is derived from the root מָנָה (mnʾ), whose core meaning is 'to count, number, allot, assign.' The nominal pattern suggests a place or portion allocated or assigned, though in actual biblical usage, תִּמְנָה serves solely as a geographic designation without retaining the meaning of 'portion' or 'allocation.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Timnah appears as at least two distinct settlements: one in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah (Josh 15:10), and another in the region assigned to Dan but associated with Philistine or Canaanite control (Judg 14:1-5, the narrative of Samson). The appearance of the name 'Timnah' across multiple texts reflects shifting territorial control—particularly salient in the narratives of Judah and Samson, where the region's borderland character is highlighted. Later translations, including the Septuagint and English Bibles, transliterate or adapt the name variably as Timnah, Timnath, or Thimnathah, but the original Hebrew refers strictly to the physical locale. The identification of Timnah with later archaeological sites (e.g., Tel Batash for the Shephelah Timnah) is based on extrabiblical evidence. The Strong's gloss 'a portion assigned' draws from the root meaning but is not realized in the proper name's contextual use in the biblical text. Care must be taken not to conflate this toponym with both the masculine תִּמְנַת (Timnath) of similar form nor with unrelated common nouns derived from the same root. The name is indicative of possible administrative or territorial allocation at the time of naming but does not serve that semantic function in the biblical narratives themselves.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָנָה; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine; Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מנה (m-n-h) — to count, to allot, to assign
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4482 | מֵן | with strings |
| H4487 | מָנָה | to be counted |
| H4488 | מָנֶה | the appointed measure |
| H4489 | מֹנֶה | measured intervals |
| H4490 | מָנָה | the assigned portion |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8553-03 |
תִּמְנָֽתָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
to Timnah | Timnah-ward | 6 |
H8553-05 |
וְ/תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | vetimenatah | HC/Np/Sd |
in Timnah | Timnah | 2 |
H8553-02 |
תִּמְנָֽה | timenah | HNp |
Timnah | Timnah | 2 |
H8553-01 |
בְּ/תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | betimenatah | HR/Np/Sd |
in Timnah | in Timnah | 1 |
H8553-04 |
וְ/תִמְנָ֑ה | vetimenah | HC/Np |
and Timnah | and Timnah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8553-03 |
Genesis 38:12 | תִּמְנָֽתָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
Timnah | Timnah-ward |
H8553-03 |
Genesis 38:13 | תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
to Timnah | Timnah-ward |
H8553-03 |
Genesis 38:14 | תִּמְנָ֑תָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
Timnah | Timnah-ward |
H8553-02 |
Joshua 15:10 | תִּמְנָֽה | timenah | HNp |
Timnah | Timnah |
H8553-04 |
Joshua 15:57 | וְ/תִמְנָ֑ה | vetimenah | HC/Np |
and Timnah | and Timnah |
H8553-05 |
Joshua 19:43 | וְ/תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | vetimenatah | HC/Np/Sd |
and Timnah | Timnah |
H8553-03 |
Judges 14:1 | תִּמְנָ֑תָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
to Timnah | Timnah-ward |
H8553-01 |
Judges 14:1 | בְּ/תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | betimenatah | HR/Np/Sd |
in Timnah | in Timnah |
H8553-05 |
Judges 14:2 | בְ/תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה | vetimenatah | HR/Np/Sd |
in Timnah | Timnah |
H8553-03 |
Judges 14:5 | תִּמְנָ֑תָ/ה | timenatah | HNp/Sd |
to Timnah | Timnah-ward |