קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (qa.desh bar.ne.a)
qa.desh bar.ne.a
Kadesh-barnea
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The place name Qadesh-barnea means "holy" or "sacred." It appears ten times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the books of Numbers and Joshua. Located in the southern region of Judah, this site served as a critical geographic marker for the borders of the Promised Land.
Its significance stems from its role as the gateway to Canaan. In Numbers, it is where the spies returned and where the Israelites camped for many years before entering the land (Numbers 13:26; 20:1). Later texts use it to define the extent of tribal territories in Joshua, marking the southernmost point of the inheritance.
While some ancient sources mention a different city named Kadesh near Damascus, the biblical usage here consistently points to this specific desert outpost. The name itself reflects its status as a sacred boundary, separating the wilderness from the settled land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Kadesh-barnea stands as a quiet boundary between the wilderness and the promise. The name itself means sacred place, marking where the Israelites paused before entering Canaan. It was not just a geographic point but a moment of decision. Here they waited, learned, and sometimes doubted, showing that faith often involves long seasons of preparation.
For you, this word reminds us that God meets us in transitions. Whether you are waiting for a door to open or standing at the edge of a new chapter, Kadesh-barnea suggests that these pauses have purpose. The land was not taken by rushing but by trusting the timing of God’s command.
When we read Caleb’s testimony in Joshua 14, we see how faithfulness endures through decades. He remembered what God said at that sacred border and held to it. This word invites us to view our own waiting periods not as wasted time but as holy ground where character is formed and trust is deepened.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Barnea10×
- from/ Kadesh5×
- of/ Kadesh2×
- Kadesh2×
- at/ Kadesh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/קָּדֵ֥שׁ3×
- בַּרְנֵֽעַ\׃3×
- בַּרְנֵ֖עַ3×
- קָדֵ֥שׁ2×
- לְ/קָדֵ֣שׁ2×
- בַּרְנֵ֑עַ2×
- מִ/קָּדֵ֤שׁ1×
- מִ/קָּדֵ֣שׁ1×
- בַּרְנֵ֙עַ֙1×
- בַּרְנֵ֗עַ1×
- בְּ/קָדֵ֥שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 14:6
Then the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.
Caleb uses Kadesh-barnea to anchor his memory of God’s promise, showing how this place became a touchstone for lifelong faithfulness.
-
Deuteronomy 9:23
When Yahweh sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, “Go up and possess the land which I have given you,” you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God, and you didn’t believe him or listen to his voice.
Moses recalls the rebellion at this sacred border, highlighting how even near the threshold of promise, human doubt can stall progress.
-
Numbers 34:4
Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of Kadesh Barnea; and it shall go from there to Hazar Addar, and pass along to Azmon.
The border description places Kadesh-barnea as a definitive marker of the land’s extent, emphasizing its role in defining God’s inheritance.
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Joshua 10:41
Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.
Joshua’s campaign stretches from this southern outpost to Gaza, illustrating how the conquest began at this sacred boundary and expanded outward.