יְשָׁנָה (ye.sha.nah)
ye.sha.nah
Jeshanah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Jeshanah refers to a specific town located on the southern border of the northern kingdom of Israel, situated near Bethel. Its name translates to "storage" or "old," suggesting a place with historical significance or perhaps one used for keeping supplies. This geographical detail helps map the boundaries described in biblical texts.
Although this word appears only twice in Scripture, its location is crucial for understanding the territorial descriptions in Nehemiah and II Chronicles. It serves as a marker for the limits of the northern kingdom, providing readers with a concrete sense of the political landscape during those periods. The name may also be an alternative spelling related to the Gate of Jeshanah mentioned in other passages.
Translators typically render this term simply as "Jeshanah" to preserve its identity as a place name rather than forcing a literal translation of "storage" into the narrative. This approach maintains clarity for modern readers while acknowledging the word's original meaning. The brief mentions of Jeshanah highlight how biblical geography often relies on small, specific details to anchor larger historical accounts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jeshanah appears as a specific town on the southern border of the northern kingdom, near Bethel. Its name suggests 'storage' or 'old,' hinting at a place with historical depth or practical use for supplies. Though mentioned only twice, it anchors the territorial descriptions in II Chronicles and Nehemiah, helping us visualize the political landscape of that era.
For your faith, this detail reminds us that God’s Word is grounded in real history and geography. These small markers are not just random names but part of a larger story where God guides His people through tangible places. When you read about Jeshanah, consider how the physical world reflects God’s orderly plan for His nation.
Even in brief mentions, Scripture invites us to trust in the reliability of its accounts. The precision of these locations shows that God cares about the details of our lives and history. This can encourage you to see your own journey as part of a meaningful narrative, where every step is known and valued by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jeshanah1×
- <the>/ Jeshanah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְשָׁנָ֖ה1×
- הַ/יְשָׁנָ֜ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 13:19
Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.
This verse records Abijah taking Jeshanah from Jeroboam, showing its strategic role as a border city during the divided kingdom period.
-
Nehemiah 12:39
and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
Here, Jeshanah is listed among locations visited by the procession, highlighting its continued significance in post-exilic Jerusalem's religious geography.