Lexical Summary Saleim: Salem Original Word: Σαλείμ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Salim. Probably from the same as saleuo; Salim, a place in Palestine -- Salim. see GREEK saleuo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from the same as Salém Definition Salim, a place in Pal. NASB Translation Salim (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4530: ΣαλείμΣαλείμ, τό, Salim, a town which according to Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. (edited by Larsow and Parthey), pp. 28, 11; 29, 14) was eight miles south of Scythopolis: John 3:23; cf. Pressel in Herzog 13:326; (cf. Αἰνών). See Σαλήμ. Topical Lexicon Entry Title: Salim (Strong’s Greek Number 4530) Geographical Setting Salim is mentioned in the Gospel according to John as a locality “near Aenon” (John 3:23). The descriptive phrase “because there was plenty of water there” situates it in a region where abundant springs or streams converge, most plausibly the upper Wadi Farʿah (also called the valley of Tirzah) on the western side of the Jordan River. Early Christian writers such as Eusebius and Jerome placed it eight miles south of Scythopolis (Beth Shean). The combination of numerous perennial springs, deep pools, and easy access from Judea and Galilee made the area ideally suited for the public baptizing ministry of John. Historical Background At the time of John the Baptist, Judea and Perea were under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas and the Roman prefects; travel throughout the Jordan rift was common for traders, pilgrims, and preachers. The Jordan valley functioned as a natural corridor that linked Galilee with Jerusalem, allowing John’s proclamation of repentance to reach multitudes (Matthew 3:5-6). After Jesus’ first Passover in Jerusalem (John 2:13-25), John the Baptist relocated from Bethany beyond the Jordan (John 1:28) to Aenon near Salim. This move preserved both proximity to the busy north–south route and sufficient distance from the centers of religious authority in Jerusalem, thereby enabling a prolonged, unencumbered ministry. Relation to John’s Baptizing Ministry John 3:23: “Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there, and people were coming and being baptized.” The statement underscores three realities: 1. “Also” indicates that John’s activity at Salim overlapped Jesus’ early Judean ministry (John 3:22). Theological Significance of Water and Baptism At Salim, the forerunner’s message of repentance through water baptism anticipated the cleansing and new life accomplished by Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). The abundance of water serves as an enacted parable: grace is plentiful for every repentant heart (cf. Revelation 22:17). Furthermore, the setting prefigures Jesus’ later invitation, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). Literary and Gospel Themes 1. Contrast of Old and New: John’s baptism prepared for the New Covenant realities Jesus would inaugurate. Traditional and Archaeological Considerations Several archaeological surveys of Wadi Farʿah reveal extensive spring-fed pools and first-century remains, supporting the Johannine detail of “plenty of water.” Although definitive excavation of a baptizing site is lacking, early Byzantine pilgrims venerated the locale, constructing memorial churches in the vicinity. The persistence of local place-names (ʿAinûn, Sa’lim) preserves the memory of the biblical narrative. Reflection in Christian Thought and Practice • Catechetical writers of the second and third centuries (e.g., Tertullian, Origen) pointed to Salim to defend the practice of baptism by immersion. Summary Salim, though mentioned only once in the New Testament, occupies an indispensable place in the unfolding drama of redemption. Situated in a water-rich pocket of the Jordan valley, it afforded John the Baptist a strategic base to proclaim repentance, bear witness to Jesus, and administer baptism to multitudes. Through its geographical suitability and theological symbolism, Salim magnifies the sufficiency of God’s provision and the continuity of His saving purposes from the Jordan wilderness to the ends of the earth. Forms and Transliterations Σαλειμ Σαλείμ Saleim SaleímLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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