Bible Word Study
עָנִים
ʻÂnîym · Anim, a place in Palestine
עָנִים
Anim, a place in Palestine
Definition
Anim is a proper noun referring to a town in the hill country of Judah, located in ancient Palestine. It is listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah following the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 15:50). The name itself means 'fountains' or 'springs,' suggesting it was a settlement known for its water sources. As a geographical location, its primary significance is its inclusion in the biblical record of tribal territories.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Anim' is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 15:50, within a list of cities given to the tribe of Judah. Its usage is strictly as a place name within a geographical and administrative context, documenting the division of the Promised Land. No narrative or descriptive details about the town are provided beyond its listing.
Etymology
The name 'Anim' (עָנִים) is the plural form of the Hebrew word 'ayin' (עַיִן, H5869), which means 'eye,' 'spring,' or 'fountain.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to flow.' Therefore, the place name 'Anim' literally translates to 'fountains' or 'springs,' directly describing a key physical characteristic of the location.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, settlements were often named after prominent geographical features. A name meaning 'fountains' indicates the town's survival and strategic importance were tied to a reliable water source. This contrasts with modern place-naming conventions, which may honor individuals or events. Understanding this name highlights how the biblical writers and the people of the time perceived and valued their environment. No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to: עַיִן ('ayin, H5869) — the singular root word meaning 'spring' or 'fountain.'
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]