עֵין רִמּוֹן

En-Rimmon, a place in Palestine

Definition

En-Rimmon is a place name meaning 'spring of the pomegranate,' referring to a town in the territory of Judah. It is listed among the settlements repopulated by the tribe of Judah after the return from the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:29). The name likely describes a location known for a fresh water source (spring) and possibly pomegranate trees or cultivation. As a compound place name, it combines two common elements to identify a specific geographical location in the southern part of ancient Judah.

Biblical Usage

This proper noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 11:29. It appears in a list detailing the resettlement of towns in Judah by the returning exiles. The context is administrative and geographical, serving to document the re-establishment of the tribal inheritance in the post-exilic period.

Etymology

The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: 'ayin' (עַיִן, H5869), meaning 'spring' or 'fountain,' and 'rimmon' (רִמּוֹן, H7416), meaning 'pomegranate.' It is a straightforward descriptive toponym, common in Hebrew for places associated with water sources and local flora.

Semantic Range

Place names like En-Rimmon were practical identifiers in ancient Israel, often describing a location's key physical features. A 'spring' was a vital, life-sustaining resource in the arid climate, and the pomegranate was a valued fruit tree, symbolizing fertility and abundance. The name reflects an agrarian society's connection to the land and its resources.

עַיִן ('Ayin, H5869) — The root word for 'spring' or 'fountain,' a common element in many place names (e.g., En-Gedi). רִמּוֹן (Rimmôn, H7416) — The root word for 'pomegranate,' also used as a place name itself (e.g., Rimmon).

Word Details

Scripture References