אֶשְׁתָּאוֹל (esh.ta.ol)
esh.ta.ol
Eshtaol
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun eshtaol refers to a specific city in ancient Israel, identified as an inheritance for the tribe of Dan that lay within the territory of Judah. The name itself carries the meaning "entreaty," though the text does not explicitly explain the historical reason behind this label. It appears seven times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the books of Joshua and Judges.
This location holds a distinct place in biblical narrative as the hometown of Samson’s parents, Manoah and his wife. The sources highlight its significance by noting that it is also the origin point for the term "Eshtaolite," used to describe people from that town. Its mention anchors the story of the judge Samson in a concrete geographical setting within the southern hill country.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Eshtaol is not a famous capital or a site of great battles, but a quiet town in the hill country of Judah. It appears in the Bible as part of the inheritance for the tribe of Dan and serves as the home of Manoah and his wife, the parents of Samson. This simple geographical detail reminds us that God often works through ordinary places and families.
The name means "entreaty," which suggests a life of reliance on God’s help. Even though the text does not explain why this town received this name, its connection to Samson’s upbringing shows how God prepares His servants in the everyday settings of home and community. Your own faith journey may feel similarly grounded in the quiet, unremarkable moments of daily life.
When you read about Eshtaol, it is an invitation to see God’s presence in the ordinary. Just as Samson was raised in a specific place with specific people, your life is held within God’s purposeful design. There is comfort in knowing that He uses our local contexts and relationships to shape us for His work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Eshtaol3×
- and/ from/ Eshtaol2×
- and/ Eshtaol2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מֵֽ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל1×
- וּ/מֵ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל1×
- וְ/אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל1×
- וְ/אֶשְׁתָּא֖וֹל1×
- אֶשְׁתָּאֹֽל\׃\ \פ1×
- אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֔ל1×
- אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 13:25
Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
This verse marks the beginning of Samson’s Spirit-led life, occurring specifically in the space between Zorah and Eshtaol, anchoring his calling to his hometown.
-
Judges 16:31
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial site of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.
Samson is buried here by his family, showing that despite his dramatic life, he remains connected to his roots and the community of Eshtaol until the end.
-
Judges 18:2
The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land!” They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
The Danites send spies from this town, highlighting Eshtaol’s role as a launching point for the tribe’s expansion into new territories.