רִמּוֹן (rim.mon)
rim.mon
Rimmon; (Rock of) Rimmon
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The Hebrew word rimmon primarily means "pomegranate," a fruit often symbolizing abundance in biblical imagery. However, as a proper noun appearing twelve times, it refers to several distinct entities rather than the fruit itself. The most prominent usage identifies Rimmon as a Benjamite from Beeroth, father of Rechab and Baanah, who assassinated Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:2). This historical figure anchors the word in the turbulent period of Israel’s early monarchy.
Beyond this individual, rimmon designates specific geographical locations. It names a rocky stronghold where six hundred Benjamites sought refuge after the conflict at Gibeah (Judges 20:47), as well as Levitical cities in Zebulun and Judah. Additionally, it serves as the name of a Syrian deity associated with wind and rain, worshipped by the people of Damascus (2 Kings 5:18). The lexical sources note that while the root suggests the fruit, these proper names likely derive from local landmarks or cultic associations rather than agricultural references.
Translators consistently render rimmon as a name, preserving its identity across contexts. The word’s versatility highlights how common objects or places could become personal names or divine titles in ancient Near Eastern culture. Its occurrence in both historical narratives and prophetic critiques underscores the complex religious landscape of Israel’s neighbors and internal tribes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you encounter the name Rimmon in Scripture, it appears in very different settings—sometimes as a place of safety for refugees fleeing violence, and other times as the temple of a foreign god. This contrast reminds us that names and places carry weight beyond their literal definitions. In Judges, the rock of Rimmon becomes a refuge for survivors, showing how even dangerous terrain can offer shelter when all else fails. It speaks to God’s providence in the midst of chaos, providing a hiding place when human strength is exhausted.
Yet the same name also marks the house of Rimmon, where Naaman’s servant worries about bowing before a deity of wind and rain. Here, the word highlights the tension between loyalty to God and the pressures of cultural or political life. We are not called to navigate these loyalties alone. The biblical narrative does not shy away from the complexity of faithfulness in a pluralistic world. Instead, it invites us to trust that God sees our struggles with divided hearts and offers grace for those who seek Him honestly.
Ultimately, Rimmon serves as a reminder that our spiritual journey often involves distinguishing between what offers true refuge and what merely mimics it. Whether we find ourselves in a place of hiding or facing external pressures, the invitation remains the same: to anchor our hope in the God who redeems, not in the strongholds or systems of this age.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rimmon11×
- <the>/ Rimmon2×
- to/ Rimmon1×
- and/ Rimmon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רִמּ֥וֹן4×
- רִמֹּ֔ן2×
- הָֽ/רִמּ֔וֹן2×
- רִמּוֹן֩1×
- רִמּ֤וֹן1×
- רִמּ֖וֹן1×
- רִמּ֔וֹן1×
- רִמּ֑וֹן1×
- לְ/רִמּ֔וֹן1×
- וְ/רִמּ֑וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 20:47
But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
This verse shows Rimmon as a literal rock refuge where survivors found temporary safety, highlighting its role as a place of shelter rather than worship.
-
II Samuel 4:5
The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth as he took his rest at noon.
Here Rimmon identifies the father of assassins, anchoring the name in a moment of political betrayal and personal ambition within Israel's early monarchy.
-
II Kings 5:18
In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”
Naaman’s servant uses this reference to express his honest struggle with dual loyalty, asking for pardon while navigating the demands of serving a foreign king at a pagan shrine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rimmon always mean a pomegranate?
Who was Rimmon the Beerothite?
Is Rimmon a god or a place?
Every Occurrence (12 verses across 6 books)
Joshua 3 verses
Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.
Joshua 19:7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages;
Joshua 19:13From there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Ethkazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah.