תִּמְנַת חֶרֶס (tim.nat che.res)
tim.nat che.res
Timnath-heres; Timnath-serah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The place name Timnath-heres, meaning "portion of the sun," refers to a city in the hill country of Ephraim that Joshua received as his inheritance and where he was eventually buried (Joshua 19:50; Judges 2:9). The Hebrew text uses this specific form in these passages, identifying the location on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
Lexical sources note that the same location is also called Timnath-serah in other Old Testament contexts. This alternative name appears to result from a rearrangement of the letters in the original term. Scholars suggest this change was likely made by scribes to avoid the potential idolatrous implications associated with the word for "sun" found in the original form.
This linguistic adjustment highlights how ancient copyists handled geographical names that might carry unwanted religious connotations. The text preserves both forms, allowing readers to see the connection between the two designations while recognizing the careful editorial choices made to maintain theological clarity in the historical record.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Timnath-heres is more than a dot on an ancient map; it is where Joshua’s long journey ended in peace. After leading Israel through decades of wilderness and war, he received this portion in the hill country of Ephraim as his inheritance. The name itself carries weight, pointing to the sun, yet the text preserves a careful shift in spelling—Timnath-serah—that suggests scribes wanted to keep the focus on God alone, not celestial bodies.
This detail invites us to consider how we handle our own legacies and the places we call home. Joshua built his city there and lived out his final years, eventually being buried in that same border of inheritance. It reminds us that faithfulness is not just about grand battles but also about settling into the specific place God has given us. The preservation of both names shows a respect for history while maintaining theological clarity.
For your own life, this word speaks to the dignity of finishing well. Whether you are starting a new chapter or resting in an old one, there is peace in knowing that your portion is secure. The careful handling of this name reflects a community that valued truth and reverence, offering a model for how we might treat our own stories with care and integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Serah2×
- in/ Timnath1×
- at/ Timnath1×
- Timnath1×
- Heres1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֶ֖רַח2×
- בְּ/תִמְנַת\־2×
- תִּמְנַת\־1×
- חֶ֖רֶס1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:50
According to Yahweh’s commandment, they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived there.
This verse establishes Timnath-heres as Joshua’s specific inheritance, marking the transition from leader to settled resident in the land he helped conquer.
-
Judges 2:9
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
Here the text uses the form 'Timnath Heres' for his burial, linking his death directly to the hill of Gaash and confirming the location as his final resting place.
-
Joshua 24:30
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
This occurrence uses the variant 'Timnathserah,' highlighting the scribal tradition that adjusted the name to avoid idolatrous associations with the sun while keeping the geographical identity clear.