אֵיתָנִים (e.ta.nim)
e.ta.nim
Ethanim
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The noun eitanim refers to the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, running from late September into October. Its name derives from the root meaning "enduring" or "perennial," reflecting a time when seasonal streams continued to flow steadily despite the approaching dry season. This linguistic connection highlights how ancient Israelites named their months based on observable natural cycles.
Although this word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, its location is significant. It is found in 1 Kings 8:2, where it marks the timing of the gathering for Solomon’s temple dedication. The use of eitanim here anchors a major religious event in the agricultural rhythm of the land, showing how worship and nature were intertwined in Israelite life.
Translators typically render eitanim as "Ethanim" or "the seventh month," preserving its identity rather than translating it literally. This approach respects the term’s role as a proper name while acknowledging its descriptive origin. The word serves as a reminder that biblical timekeeping was deeply rooted in the physical world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Ethanim marks the seventh month of the ancient Hebrew calendar, a time when seasonal streams continued to flow steadily despite the approaching dry season. Its name comes from a root meaning "enduring," reflecting a period of reliable water and harvest completion. This connection between language and nature shows how deeply Israelite life was tied to the rhythms of the land.
In 1 Kings 8:2, this month serves as the backdrop for Solomon’s temple dedication. The gathering of all Israel during Ethanim anchors a major religious event in the agricultural cycle, demonstrating that worship and daily life were not separate spheres but intertwined parts of faithfulness to God.
This word reminds us that biblical timekeeping was grounded in the physical world. It invites readers to see how sacred moments are often set within ordinary, natural cycles, offering a perspective on how God’s people have always found meaning in the changing seasons of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Ethanim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/אֵֽתָנִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 8:2
All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
This verse places the dedication of Solomon's temple within the specific agricultural rhythm of Ethanim, linking national worship to the land's seasonal cycles.