נֶפְתּוֹחַ
𐤍𐤐𐤕𐤅𐤇
Nefetocha
H5318 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Nephtoach; a proper place name in biblical texts, likely referring to a specific water source or spring. In biblical geographical listings, it designates a prominent boundary marker, specifically a spring that defined territorial borders. The term itself does not describe common springs generically but refers to a particular named location.
Semantic Range
proper place name (boundary spring/landmark), name of a spring used in territorial descriptions, location marker, not a generic term for 'spring' or 'fountain'
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root פתח (p-t-ḥ), meaning 'to open.' The noun form in נֶפְתּוֹחַ has the sense 'place of opening' or 'spring,' probably referencing a source of water emerging from the ground. The toponym designation identifies the locality by a notable physical feature derived from the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נֶפְתּוֹחַ appears in biblical boundary descriptions, most notably as 'the spring of Nephtoach,' marking the border between the tribal allotments of Judah and Benjamin (Josh 15:9, 18:15). This suggests its importance as a known geographical landmark during the settlement and administrative division of the land among the Israelite tribes. Though the term is structurally similar to other words for 'spring' or 'fountain' (cf. עין), its usage is specific and does not overlap with common nouns for springs. Later traditions identify Nephtoach with springs in the vicinity of the modern-day Ein Lifta near Jerusalem, but the exact identification is uncertain. English translations may obscure its status as a place name by rendering it as 'spring of Nephtoach' or simply 'Nephtoah,' but the term functions primarily as a toponym in biblical usage, not as a generic descriptor for springs.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּתַח; opened, i.e. a spring; Nephtoach, a place in Palestine; Neptoah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פתח (p-t-ḥ) — to open, to loosen, to set free
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3315 | יֶפֶת | to Yepheth |
| H3316 | יִפְתָּח | to He-Will-Open |
| H4668 | מַפְתֵּחַ | the opener |
| H4669 | מִפְתָּח | the opening |
| H6596 | פֹּת | their intimate opening |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5318-01 |
נֶפְתּ֔וֹחַ | nefetocha | HNp |
of Nephtoah | Opening-Spring | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5318-01 |
Joshua 15:9 | נֶפְתּ֔וֹחַ | nefetocha | HNp |
of Nephtoah | Opening-Spring |
H5318-01 |
Joshua 18:15 | נֶפְתּֽוֹחַ | nefetocha | HNp |
of Nephtoah | Opening-Spring |