יִפְתַּח־אֵל (yiph.tach-el)
yiph.tach-el
(Valley of) Iphtahel
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Iphtahel, literally meaning “God opens,” appears in the Old Testament as part of a place designation: the Valley of Iphtahel. This location is mentioned twice in Joshua, situated between the territories of Zebulun and Asher (Joshua 19:10; 12:18). The name combines the verb yiphṭaḥ (“he opens”) with ’ēl (“God”), suggesting an opening or breakthrough attributed to divine action.
While the exact geographical position remains uncertain, the name itself carries a vivid image. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, valleys often represented barriers or difficult terrain; thus, “God opens” may reflect a belief that God provided a passage through challenging land for the tribe of Zebulun. The sources note no further theological elaboration beyond this literal toponymic meaning.
Iphtahel serves as a reminder that place names in Scripture often preserve memories of divine intervention or provision. Though its precise location is lost, the name endures as a small but meaningful marker of God’s role in shaping Israel’s inheritance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Iphtahel, meaning “God opens,” appears in the Old Testament as part of a place designation: the Valley of Iphtahel. This location is mentioned twice in Joshua, situated between the territories of Zebulun and Asher (Joshua 19:10; 12:18). The name combines the verb yiphṭaḥ (“he opens”) with ’ēl (“God”), suggesting an opening or breakthrough attributed to divine action. While the exact geographical position remains uncertain, the name itself carries a vivid image. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, valleys often represented barriers or difficult terrain; thus, “God opens” may reflect a belief that God provided a passage through challenging land for the tribe of Zebulun.
The sources note no further theological elaboration beyond this literal toponymic meaning. Iphtahel serves as a reminder that place names in Scripture often preserve memories of divine intervention or provision. Though its precise location is lost, the name endures as a small but meaningful marker of God’s role in shaping Israel’s inheritance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Iphtah2×
- El2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִפְתַּח\־2×
- אֵֽל\׃1×
- אֵ֥ל1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:14
The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;
This verse marks the northern boundary of Zebulun's territory, highlighting how Iphtahel served as a geographical marker for tribal inheritance.
-
Joshua 19:27
It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,
Here the border extends northward to Iphtahel, reinforcing its role in defining the extent of Zebulun's land allotment.