Lexical Summary Nephtoach: Nephtoah Original Word: נֶפְתּוֹחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Neptoah From pathach; opened, i.e. A spring; Nephtoach, a place in Palestine -- Neptoah. see HEBREW pathach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pathach Definition a place on the border of Judah and Benjamin NASB Translation Nephtoah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs נֶפְתּוֺחַ proper name, of a location Μαφθω, Ναφθω, in ׳מֵי נ Joshua 15:9; Joshua 18:15 (P), on border of Judah and Benjamin; usually identification with spring Liftâ, near Jerusalem to the northwest, see BuhlGeogr:101. נַפְתֻּחִים. מֶּ֫תִי, מְּתַיּוּת see below פתה. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Nephtoah designates a perennial spring on the western side of the central Benjamin–Judah watershed. From the high spine of the hill country it drains toward the Valley of Rephaim and the upper reaches of the Sorek basin. Most scholars identify it with the abundant spring Ein Lifta (ʿAyn Neftoah) at the north-west approach to Jerusalem, although a minority have suggested Ein ’Ainyāt farther west. Whichever location is preferred, the feature is a reliable, year-round source of water that naturally lent itself to boundary making. Biblical References 1. Joshua 15:9 marks Nephtoah as the northernmost landmark on the western border of Judah: “From the top of the mountain the border curved to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and extended to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim)”. Because the spring stands on the line that separates the inheritance of Judah from that of Benjamin, it is listed twice, once from the vantage of each tribe. Historical Considerations During the Conquest and Settlement periods the allocation of territory had both theological and civil importance. The mention of Nephtoah in the precise border formulae underscores the credibility of the allotment lists and the permanence of Israel’s tribal arrangements. In later centuries the proximity of the spring to Jerusalem gave it continuing strategic value. The city could be supplied with water from outside its fortified core, yet because the source lay at a higher elevation the flow was defensible. Archaeological and Topographical Insights Excavations and surveys of the Lifta area reveal Iron Age and later occupation, with extensive terracing and rock-cut installations. Pottery sherds from the late second millennium BC affirm habitation consistent with Joshua’s timeframe. The spring issues through a tunnelled rock scarp into a large pool, matching the description “the waters of Nephtoah.” The name appears to have endured in Arabic (ʿAyn Neftoah), testifying to the continuity of local memory. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Covenant Boundaries: Nephtoah illustrates the Lord’s meticulous care in apportioning the land. As each tribe’s limits were fixed, so believers today can trust God’s oversight of their appointed sphere of service (Acts 17:26). Lessons for the Church Today • Respect for God-ordained Order: Just as Israel honored divinely set borders, congregations should uphold biblical parameters for doctrine and conduct. Key Cross-References Numbers 34:2-12; Joshua 15:1-12; Joshua 18:11-20; Psalm 16:6; Proverbs 22:28; Acts 17:26. Forms and Transliterations נֶפְתּ֔וֹחַ נֶפְתּֽוֹחַ׃ נפתוח נפתוח׃ nefToach nep̄·tō·w·aḥ nep̄tōwaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:9 HEB: מַעְיַן֙ מֵ֣י נֶפְתּ֔וֹחַ וְיָצָ֖א אֶל־ NAS: of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded KJV: of the water of Nephtoah, and went out INT: the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded to Joshua 18:15 2 Occurrences |
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