מְכֹנָה

Mekonah, a place in Palestine

Definition

Mekonah is a proper noun referring to a specific settlement in the region of Judah during the post-exilic period. It is listed among the towns where the people of Judah lived after returning from the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:28). The name itself means 'foundation' or 'base,' likely describing the town's establishment or its geographical setting. As a place name, it has only this singular, geographical sense in the biblical text.

Biblical Usage

The word מְכֹנָה (Mekonah) is used only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 11:28. It appears in a list detailing the repopulation of Judah, specifically naming towns where the descendants of Judah settled. Its usage is purely geographical and administrative, serving to document the locations of the returning exiles.

Etymology

Mekonah is derived from the same Hebrew root as the common noun מְכוֹנָה (mᵊkônâ, H4350), meaning 'base,' 'foundation,' or 'pedestal.' This root (כון, kwn) carries the core idea of being established, firm, or fixed. The place name likely originated from this concept, perhaps indicating a settled or well-founded town.

Semantic Range

As a place name in a post-exilic resettlement list, Mekonah reflects the historical reality of the Jewish community re-establishing itself in the ancestral land. Its inclusion underscores the importance of land, tribal identity, and the fulfillment of the promise of return from exile. For the original readers, this name connected to a real, likely small, community within the restored province of Judah.

מְכוֹנָה (mᵊkônâ, H4350) — The common noun meaning 'foundation' or 'base,' from which the place name is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References