עֵין תַּפּוּחַ (en tap.pu.ach)
en tap.pu.ach
En-tappuah
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-tappuah identifies a specific location in ancient Israel, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible within Joshua 16:7. It translates literally to "fountain of the apple-city" or "spring of Tappuah," linking a water source directly to the nearby settlement known as Tappuah.
Geographically, this site marked a boundary line between the tribal territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. The sources describe it as being situated in the lowlands, serving as a tangible marker for land division during the allocation of the Promised Land. Its dual name suggests that En-tappuah and Tappuah were closely associated, possibly referring to the same general area from slightly different perspectives.
As a rare proper noun with such limited textual presence, the word anchors the narrative of tribal inheritance in concrete geography. It reminds readers that the biblical account of land distribution was grounded in real, named places, where water sources often defined community boundaries and identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Joshua 16:7 mentions En-tappuah as a boundary marker between Ephraim and Manasseh. This single reference grounds the biblical narrative in real geography, showing that God’s promises were fulfilled in specific, tangible places. Water sources like this spring often defined community identity and inheritance.
Joshua 17:7 also notes En-tappuah as part of Manasseh’s border. These verses remind us that faith is lived out in concrete reality. The land was divided by real landmarks, linking spiritual promise to physical location. This connection helps readers see how ancient Israelites experienced God’s provision through their environment.
While the name appears only twice, its presence highlights the importance of place in biblical history. It invites reflection on how we locate our own faith within specific contexts and communities today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Tappuah1×
- En1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּפּֽוּחַ\׃1×
- עֵ֥ין1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 17:7
The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. The border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
Here, the location is explicitly linked to Manasseh’s territorial extent, reinforcing its role in land division.