עִיר־הַמֶּ֫לַח (ir ham.me.lach)
ir ham.me.lach
City of Salt
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The phrase ir hammelech, literally meaning "city of salt," identifies a specific location within the wilderness territory of Judah. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, listed among the towns of the lowland district in Joshua 15:62.
The name likely reflects the region's unique geography, where salt deposits or alkaline soil were prominent features of the landscape. This single reference anchors the settlement in a harsh, arid environment, distinguishing it from the fertile valleys nearby.
As a rare toponym, its brevity highlights how ancient maps relied on distinctive local markers for identification. The term serves as a precise geographic note rather than a theological symbol, preserving the memory of a small community in the desert margins of ancient Israel.
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 the City of Salt among the towns allotted to Judah. This brief mention anchors a small community in a harsh, arid landscape defined by salt deposits. It reminds us that God’s provision extends to the most barren places on earth.
We often associate faith with fertile ground or clear victories. Yet this verse shows that sacred history includes settlements in difficult terrain. Your current season may feel like a desert margin, but you are included in the broader story of God’s people.
God knows every location and every person. Even where the soil seems unyielding, He establishes His presence. Rest in the knowledge that your life has value here, regardless of how challenging your surroundings may appear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] city of1×
- <the>/ Salt1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/עִיר\־1×
- הַ/מֶּ֖לַח1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:62
Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities with their villages.
This verse explicitly names the settlement among Judah's lowland cities, confirming its physical existence in the wilderness territory.