עֵין שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (en she.mesh)
en she.mesh
En-shemesh
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 En-shemesh translates directly to "fountain of the sun." It identifies a specific spring located on the border between the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin. The name suggests a water source that was either prominent, perhaps reflecting sunlight, or associated with local solar worship traditions in the region.
This place appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Joshua. It marks a boundary point during the division of the Promised Land among the tribes (Joshua 19:7) and is listed again as a fortified city belonging to Judah (Joshua 15:32). Its limited occurrence highlights its role as a geographic marker rather than a site of major narrative events.
Understanding En-shemesh provides insight into how ancient Israelites mapped their territory using natural landmarks. Springs were vital resources and often served as stable reference points for defining borders between neighboring tribal lands. The name itself reflects the cultural landscape of Canaan, where local deities and natural features were frequently intertwined in place names.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
En-shemesh means "fountain of the sun." This name points to a specific spring on the border between Judah and Benjamin. In ancient times, water sources were vital for survival and served as clear markers for land boundaries. The Bible uses this location to show how God carefully divided the Promised Land among the tribes.
For your faith, this detail reminds us that God cares about the small things in life. Just as He marked these borders with precision, He knows the specific places and seasons of your journey. You are never lost to Him, even when the path seems unclear or the boundaries feel tight.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shemesh2×
- En2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ2×
- עֵ֣ין2×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:7
The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.
This verse uses En-shemesh as a key geographic marker to define the northern edge of Judah's inheritance, showing how natural springs helped establish tribal borders.
-
Joshua 18:17
It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. It went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
Here the boundary line passes through En-shemesh again, confirming its role as a stable reference point for distinguishing between the territories of Judah and Benjamin.