חֲצַר עֵינוֹן
Chatsar-Enon, a place in Palestine
Definition
Chatsar-Enon is a proper noun referring to a specific geographical location in ancient Palestine. The name means 'village of springs' or 'court of the spring,' indicating it was likely a settlement known for its water sources. In the Bible, it appears only in Ezekiel 47:17, where it serves as a boundary marker in the prophet's detailed vision of the restored land of Israel, specifically marking the northern border between the territories of Damascus and Hamath. As a place name, its significance is tied entirely to this prophetic geographical description.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 47:17. It functions solely as a proper place name within a prophetic context, specifically in the description of the future borders of the land of Israel during the restoration envisioned by the prophet Ezekiel. There are no other occurrences or varied usages in other biblical books.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'Chatsar' (חָצֵר, H2691), meaning 'village,' 'settlement,' or 'enclosure,' and a derivative of 'Ayin' (עַיִן, H5869), meaning 'spring' or 'fountain.' Thus, the combined meaning is 'village of springs' or 'court of the spring,' describing a habitation associated with water sources.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a mundane place name, its single biblical occurrence in Ezekiel's vision of restoration (Ezekiel 47:17) gives it theological significance. It contributes to the detailed and orderly description of the future, idealized borders of Israel, emphasizing God's promise of a specific, restored inheritance for His people. Understanding its meaning ('village of springs') can enrich the imagery, connecting it to themes of life and blessing in the prophetic landscape.
In the ancient Near East, place names often described key geographical features. A name meaning 'village of springs' would immediately communicate to an ancient Israelite that this was a settled location valued for its reliable water supply, a critical resource in the region. Its use as a border marker in Ezekiel's vision leverages this known, descriptive name to add concrete detail to the prophetic description.
Chatsar (חָצֵר, H2691) — The root word meaning 'village' or 'court,' without the 'spring' component. Ayin (עַיִן, H5869) — The root word for 'spring' or 'fountain,' without the 'village' component.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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