עֵין־דֹּר (en-dor)
en-dor
En-dor
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name En-dor translates to "fountain of Dor," identifying it as a specific location in ancient Israel. Situated roughly four miles north of Mount Tabor, this place lay within the tribal territory of Issachar but remained under the possession of the tribe of Manasseh. Its primary mention in Scripture serves to anchor the narrative of King Saul’s final days.
En-dor is best known as the residence of a woman who consulted spirits, an act strictly forbidden by Mosaic law. It was here that the desperate king, seeking guidance before battle against the Philistines, visited her under cover of night. The location thus marks the geographical setting for one of the most dramatic encounters in the Old Testament, where Saul receives a prophecy of his own defeat.
Though the word appears in only two verses, its significance is profound. It represents a place where religious boundaries were crossed and royal authority collapsed. The name itself, pointing to a water source, contrasts sharply with the spiritual dryness and isolation experienced by the king who sought answers there.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
En-dor means "fountain of Dor," a place name that points to a physical water source in ancient Israel. In the biblical narrative, this location becomes the setting for King Saul’s final, desperate attempt to seek guidance from a medium. The story highlights the tragic consequences of turning away from God’s established ways when fear takes hold.
For believers today, this account serves as a sobering reminder of the peace found in trusting divine wisdom over hidden or forbidden methods. It invites us to examine where we might be seeking answers in places that do not lead to life, encouraging a return to faithful reliance on God’s word and community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- -dor2×
- [is] in/ En-1×
- En-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵֽין\־1×
- דּֽוֹר\׃1×
- דֹּר֙1×
- בְּ/עֵ֥ין1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 28:7
Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.”
This verse identifies En-dor as the specific home of the medium Saul seeks, marking the location where he crosses a sacred boundary in his desperation.
-
Joshua 17:11
Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns.
This earlier reference establishes En-dor as an inhabited town within the tribal boundaries, grounding the later narrative in a real geographical context.