עֵיטָם
e.tam
Etam
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Explored# Etam (H5862) The Hebrew word עֵיטָם (Etam) appears only twice in the biblical text, making it a rare topographical term. Based on the lexical data provided, Etam functions as a proper noun referring to a specific location rather than a common word with varied meanings. Its limited attestation suggests it held particular but geographically circumscribed significance in biblical geography. Without access to the specific biblical passages where Etam appears, the data confirms only that this was a place name referenced twice in scripture. The rarity of its occurrence—just two instances across the entire biblical corpus—indicates that Etam was either a minor settlement, a site of limited narrative importance, or a location significant primarily within a particular historical period or region. Such sparse usage is typical of geographical names that appear primarily in genealogical lists or background descriptions rather than in central narratives. The significance of studying rare terms like Etam lies in understanding the full geographical and political landscape of ancient Israel and surrounding regions. Even place names appearing once or twice contribute to reconstructing biblical-era settlement patterns and territorial boundaries. However, the minimal textual evidence for Etam means interpretations must remain cautious and grounded strictly in the contexts where it appears.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text