בּוֹר עָשָׁן (kor a.shan)
kor a.shan
Bor-ashan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Bor-ashan, found only in 1 Samuel 30:30, translates literally to "smoking pit" or "furnace of smoke." It designates a specific town located in the southwestern region of Judah. The unusual spelling borrows the word for "pit" (bor) rather than the more common "measuring vessel" (kor), emphasizing its physical character as a hollow or depression.
This location appears in the list of cities recovered by David and his men after their victory over the Amalekites. By including Bor-ashan in this distribution, the text highlights the extent of the territory reclaimed from raiders. The name itself likely describes a local geological feature, perhaps a cave or excavation site that produced smoke, possibly from charcoal burning or natural vents.
Its single biblical occurrence anchors it firmly within the narrative of David’s consolidation of power in Judah. While the exact nature of the "smoke" remains unspecified, the name evokes a tangible, rugged landscape typical of the Negev highlands. The entry serves as a geographical marker for the southern borders of David’s early kingdom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bor-ashan appears only once in Scripture, tucked into a list of towns in 1 Samuel 30:30. It means "smoking pit" or "furnace of smoke," likely describing a local cave or excavation site used for charcoal burning. This small detail paints a picture of the rugged Negev landscape where David’s men operated.
Seeing this name reminds us that God cares about the ordinary places and people in our lives. Just as David reclaimed these towns after a difficult battle, God restores what has been lost to us. Whether we are dealing with confusion or hardship, His faithfulness extends to every corner of our world.
This verse shows that no part of our story is too small for God to notice. He brings peace and restoration to the broken places, offering hope even in the most unexpected locations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] in/ Bor1×
- Ashan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָשָׁ֖ן1×
- בְּ/בוֹר\־1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 30:30
to those who were in Hormah, to those who were in Borashan, to those who were in Athach,
This verse lists Bor-ashan among the towns recovered by David after his victory over the Amalekites, showing the extent of the territory reclaimed.