דִּימוֹנָה

Dimonah, a place in Palestine

Definition

Dimonah is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of Judah, located in the Negev (southern desert region) of ancient Palestine. It is listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah in the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. The single biblical reference to Dimonah is found in Joshua 15:22, where it appears in a list of towns in the southernmost district of Judah's inheritance. No other narrative or descriptive details about the town are provided in Scripture.

Biblical Usage

The word Dimonah is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 15:22. It functions strictly as a geographical proper noun, identifying a specific location within a detailed list of cities given to the tribe of Judah. The context is administrative and territorial, part of the catalog of inheritances following the conquest of Canaan. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single occurrence.

Etymology

The name Dimonah (דִּימוֹנָה) is a feminine form derived from the Hebrew word Dimon (דִּימוֹן, H1775). The root is likely related to the Hebrew word 'dam' (דָּם), meaning 'blood,' which could suggest a place associated with redness (perhaps of soil or water) or a symbolic name. As a feminine derivative, Dimonah may indicate a settlement or location connected to a place named Dimon.

Semantic Range

As a town listed in Joshua's territorial record, Dimonah represents the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel. Its inclusion in a formal list underscores the historical reality of the allotment and the importance of each community within the tribal structure. For the original audience, such lists affirmed their identity, heritage, and God's provision of a homeland.

Dimon (דִּימוֹן, H1775) — The masculine/root form from which Dimonah is derived, possibly referring to a different but related location.

Word Details

Scripture References