שִׁיחוֹר לִבְנָת

Shichor-Libnath, a stream of Palestine

Definition

Shichor-Libnath is a proper name referring to a stream or river marking the southern boundary of the territory of Asher, as described in Joshua 19:26. The name is a compound, likely describing the water's appearance or nature. It is generally identified as a coastal river in the Carmel region, possibly the modern Nahr ez-Zerqa ('Blue River') or a nearby stream. As a geographical marker, its primary significance is in defining tribal allotments within the Promised Land.

Biblical Usage

This term is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 19:26, within the context of listing the borders of the tribe of Asher. It functions solely as a geographical proper noun, specifying a boundary point: 'and it touched Carmel on the west, and Shihor-libnath.'

Etymology

The name is a compound of two elements: 'Shichor' (שִׁיחוֹר), derived from a root meaning 'dark' or 'black' (cf. H7883), and 'Libnath' (לִבְנָת), from the root לָבַן (H3835), meaning 'white' or 'to be white.' The combined meaning, 'darkish whiteness' or 'black-white,' may poetically describe the water's color, perhaps from sediment, or refer to the confluence of two differently colored streams.

Semantic Range

As a boundary marker, Shichor-Libnath was part of the tangible fulfillment of God's promise to allocate specific territories to the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-19). Understanding its location, even if uncertain today, highlights the concrete, geographical nature of Israel's inheritance. The descriptive name may reflect ancient Near Eastern practices of naming landscape features by their observable physical characteristics.

nahal (נַחַל, H5158) — A general term for a wadi or seasonal stream, whereas Shichor-Libnath is a specific proper name.

Word Details

Scripture References