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אֵתָם

𐤀𐤕𐤌

Etam

H864 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain, possibly 'border' or 'edge' if Hebrew but likely unrelated

Definition

Etham: The name of a specific location on the route of the Israelite departure from Egypt, likely situated on the edge or in proximity to the wilderness between Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. The exact geographic identification is uncertain, but it is generally described in biblical texts as a frontier stop before entering the open desert lands.

Semantic Range

(proper noun) a specific location; station on the journey of the Israelites; place near the wilderness on the exodus route

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. The name אֵתָם is most likely of non-Hebrew (Egyptian) origin and does not derive from a recognizable Hebrew root. Attempts to link it with Hebrew roots or meanings are speculative, though some have attempted to connect it with meanings like 'border' or 'edge,' these remain conjectural and lack philological support.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, Etham is mentioned as a key encampment during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 13:20; Numbers 33:6–8), described as 'on the edge of the wilderness.' Its precise historical and geographic location remains undetermined, and ancient as well as modern suggestions for its location vary. The term occurs exclusively within the context of the exodus narrative and does not have a broader lexical or metaphorical usage. The name does not signify an ethnic or religious identity, nor does it identify a later geographical or administrative region. Later English translations uniformly render the name as 'Etham,' and it is not associated with the later term 'Judean' or 'Jew.' Use of the term is limited to narrative references to a travel stage during the Israelite escape from Egypt.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Egyptian derivation; Etham, a place in the Desert; Etham.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

uncertain (unknown) — proper place name of uncertain origin

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H864-03 בְ/אֵתָ֔ם veetam HR/Np at Etham in Etham 2
H864-01 אֵתָ֔ם etam HNp of Etham Etham 1
H864-02 מֵֽ/אֵתָ֔ם meetam HR/Np from Etham from Etham 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H864-03 Exodus 13:20 בְ/אֵתָ֔ם veetam HR/Np in Etham in Etham
H864-03 Numbers 33:6 בְ/אֵתָ֔ם veetam HR/Np at Etham in Etham
H864-02 Numbers 33:7 מֵֽ/אֵתָ֔ם meetam HR/Np from Etham from Etham
H864-01 Numbers 33:8 אֵתָ֔ם etam HNp of Etham Etham
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