נִבְשָׁן (niv.shan)
niv.shan
Nibshan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Nivshan is a place name appearing only once in Scripture, listed among the fortified cities of Judah in the wilderness territory (Joshua 15:62). Its meaning, "soft soil," likely describes the physical character of the land where the settlement stood. This etymology offers a glimpse into how ancient inhabitants named locations based on local geography.
The word serves as a geographic marker rather than a theological term. It reminds readers that the allotment of the Promised Land included specific, tangible places with distinct features. The inclusion of Nivshan highlights the detailed nature of the tribal boundaries recorded in Joshua.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Joshua 15:62 lists Nibshan alongside other towns like En Gedi, marking it as part of Judah’s wilderness inheritance. This brief mention shows that God’s promises included even remote and rugged areas. The name likely refers to the soft soil there, a detail that grounds the biblical narrative in real geography.
For your faith, this reminds us that God cares about specific places and people. His plans are not vague but detailed, reaching into every corner of the land. You can trust that He knows your location and circumstances intimately, just as He knew Nibshan’s terrain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ <the>/ Nibshan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/נִּבְשָׁ֥ן1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:62
Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities with their villages.
This verse identifies Nibshan as one of six fortified cities in the wilderness zone, showing it was a recognized settlement within Judah's tribal boundary.