Netaim
Netaim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet en Nuweiti. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Netaim appears once in Scripture, in 1 Chronicles 4:23, within a genealogical record of the tribe of Judah. The verse identifies it as a place where potters lived and worked in the service of the king, stating: "These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work." The name Netaim means "plantings" or "gardens" in Hebrew, suggesting a fertile locality suitable for both horticulture and the clay needed for pottery production. The reference to royal service indicates that Netaim was connected to the administrative apparatus of the Judean monarchy, with its craftsmen producing pottery for official use. This brief mention illuminates the economic infrastructure of ancient Judah, where specialized artisan communities were organized to serve the crown. Though Netaim occupies only a single verse, it reveals the intersection of tribal identity, skilled labor, and royal administration that characterized life in the kingdom of Judah, demonstrating that even the everyday work of potters had its place within God's covenant community.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Netaim has been tentatively identified with Khirbet en-Nuweiti (or Khirbet Nuweiti), a site in the Shephelah (Judean lowlands) region of Israel, though the identification remains uncertain. The Shephelah was known in antiquity for its agricultural productivity and clay deposits suitable for pottery manufacture, consistent with the biblical description of Netaim as a center of royal pottery production. Archaeological surveys in the broader Shephelah region have uncovered numerous pottery kilns and production sites from the Iron Age, confirming the area's role in Judean ceramic industry. The specific site of Khirbet en-Nuweiti has not been extensively excavated. The Shephelah today is largely agricultural land within central Israel.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →