Bible Word Study
עָנֵם
ʻÂnêm · Anem, a place in Palestine
עָנֵם
Anem, a place in Palestine
Definition
Anem is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. It was a Levitical city within the territory of the tribe of Issachar, designated for the descendants of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:73). The name itself, meaning 'two fountains' or 'two springs,' likely describes a geographical feature of the settlement. As a Levitical city, Anem was part of the system where the priestly tribe of Levi, which received no territorial inheritance, was given cities scattered among the other tribes to live in and serve.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Anem' is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 6:73 (or 1 Chronicles 6:58 in some numbering systems). Its usage is strictly as a geographical proper noun, identifying one of the cities given to the Gershonite Levites from the territory of the tribe of Issachar. There are no other contexts or patterns of usage, as it is a single-reference location name.
Etymology
The name 'Anem' (עָנֵם) is derived from the dual form of the Hebrew word 'ayin' (עַיִן, H5869), which means 'spring,' 'fountain,' or 'eye.' The dual form ('two springs') is a common feature in Hebrew place names, often describing a location's notable physical characteristics. This etymology directly informs its meaning as a place known for its water sources.
Semantic Range
While Anem itself is a minor geographical reference, its inclusion as a Levitical city connects it to the important theological concept of God's provision for the priesthood and the unity of Israel. The Levitical cities (Joshua 21, 1 Chronicles 6) were God's means of sustaining the tribe of Levi, which was dedicated to religious service and received no land inheritance. Understanding this system highlights how Israel's social and religious structures were designed to keep worship central to tribal life. In the ancient Near East, a reliable water source was critical for settlement and survival. A place named 'Two Springs' would have been a desirable and strategically important location. As a Levitical city, Anem was not just a random town; it was part of a divinely mandated system of support for the priestly class, integrating religious and civil life within the tribal territories of Israel. No direct synonyms exist as it is a unique proper noun. Related conceptually are other Levitical city names, such as: Hebron (חֶבְרוֹן, H2275) — a major city of refuge and Levitical city in Judah; Shechem (שְׁכֶם, H7927) — a Levitical city and city of refuge in Ephraim.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]