רֶ֫סֶן (re.sen)
re.sen
Resen
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun rešen appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 10:12. It identifies Resen as a significant city located near Nineveh and Calah in ancient Assyria. The name itself translates to "bridle," a term that evokes the image of a bit used to control a horse.
This etymology offers a striking contrast to the city’s historical reputation. While a bridle suggests restraint or control, Nineveh later became infamous for its excess and defiance against God. The lexical data highlights this single geographical marker without elaborating on its political status, leaving the name as a brief but vivid detail in the genealogy of Noah’s descendants.
Translators typically render rešen simply as "Resen" to preserve the proper noun, though the underlying meaning remains accessible. The word serves as a concrete anchor in the Table of Nations, grounding the spread of Nimrod’s empire in specific, named locations rather than vague regions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Resen appears in a single verse of Scripture, tucked between the mentions of Nineveh and Calah. Its meaning, "bridle," offers a quiet reminder that God holds the reins of history. Even the most powerful empires rise and fall under His sovereign control.
When we read about ancient cities like this one, it is easy to feel distant from the text. Yet these names ground our faith in real places and real people. They show us that God’s story unfolds in the world we know, not in abstract ideas.
This brief mention invites us to trust that God is at work even when history seems chaotic. His plans are steady, and His word remains true through every generation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Resen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֶ֔סֶן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 10:12
and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
This verse places Resen geographically between Nineveh and Calah, anchoring Nimrod’s empire in specific locations rather than vague regions.