עֵין מִשְׁפָּט (en mish.pat)
en mish.pat
En-mishpat
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The phrase en mishpat translates directly as "spring of judgment." It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Genesis 14:7, where it identifies a location associated with the military campaigns of four kings against five others.
Lexical sources identify this site as another name for Kadesh, a significant oasis region in the southern Levant. The dual naming highlights how ancient places often carried multiple titles reflecting different aspects of their identity or history. In this instance, the name "spring of judgment" likely commemorates a specific event or legal tradition linked to that water source.
Its solitary occurrence underscores its role as a precise geographical marker rather than a theological term. By equating it with Kadesh, the text connects this specific spring to the broader narrative landscape of the patriarchal period, anchoring historical events in recognizable terrain.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The phrase En-mishpat appears only once in Scripture, in Genesis 14:7. It marks a specific location where ancient armies clashed. While it might sound like a theological term about divine justice, the text uses it simply as a geographical marker. This reminds us that God’s story unfolds in real places with real names.
Understanding this detail helps ground our faith in history. The Bible does not shy away from naming specific springs and cities. These details show that God cares about the actual world we live in. Even obscure references point to a larger narrative of conflict and deliverance.
We can find comfort in knowing that Scripture is precise. You do not need to decode every name to trust God. The text invites you to see His hand in history, even when the details seem small or distant from your daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Mishpat1×
- En1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵ֤ין1×
- מִשְׁפָּט֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 14:7
They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
This verse uses the phrase as a precise geographical marker to identify Kadesh during the military campaign.