Lexical Summary Sinim: Sinim Original Word: סִינִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sinim Plural of an otherwise unknown name; Sinim, a distant Oriental region -- Sinim. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertainder. Definition inhab. of unc. location NASB Translation Sinim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סְוֵנִים adjective, of a people plural Syenites, so (or סְוָנִים) read probably for סִינִים (q. v.) Isaiah 49:12. סִינִים adjective, of a people plural = substantive; ׳אֶרֶץ ס Isaiah 49:12, identification with Chinese by Thes948-950 De CheComm. and others; but see see RichthofenChina i. 436 f., 504, reviewed by YuleAcad. xiii. 339; Di Du; T. de LacouperieBOR i. 45 ff., 183 ff., who thinks of Šina, at foot of Hindu Kush, but unlikely; read probably סְוֵנִים (or סְוָנִים), so CheIntr. Is. 275, and Hpt., compare already JDMich. סִיס Jeremiah 8:7 Qr see I. סוּס. Topical Lexicon Scriptural Occurrence Isaiah 49:12 is the sole canonical mention of סִינִים (Sinim): “Behold, they will come from afar—some from the north and the west, and others from the land of Sinim” (Berean Standard Bible). Geographical Proposals 1. Far-Eastern Land (Traditional “China”) Early expositors, noting the phonetic similarity between “Sinim” and early Greco-Roman references to the “Sinae,” placed the locale at the eastern extremity of the known world. This view highlights the Messianic promise reaching nations then far beyond Israel’s horizon. 2. Syene / Aswan (Southern Egypt) Some Hebrew manuscripts read “Syene,” aligning Sinim with the Nile’s first cataract. This position situates Sinim at the southern gateway of Egypt, a traditional sphere of Israelite dispersion (Jeremiah 43:7-13). 3. Wilderness of Sinai Connection A minority connect Sinim with the Sinai Peninsula, suggesting a poetic reinforcement of the Exodus motif—nations once associated with Israel’s wilderness journey now included in Zion’s restoration. While the precise identification remains debated, every option places Sinim on the periphery of Israel’s experience, underscoring the global scope of redemption. Historical Context Isaiah 49 forms part of the “Servant Songs” (Isaiah 42–53). Written to a people soon to face exile, the passage anticipates a return not only from Babylon but from every point of the compass. Naming distant Sinim dramatizes the promise that the LORD’s anointed Servant will gather a multinational community, transcending political borders long before international missionary movement existed. Theological Significance 1. Universality of Salvation The inclusion of Sinim affirms that the covenant blessings pledged to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) encompass the remotest peoples. Isaiah’s vision foreshadows Revelation 7:9, where a vast multitude “from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” worships the Lamb. 2. Integrity of Prophecy The fulfillment trajectory—from exilic return, through the spread of the Gospel in Acts, to the modern missionary enterprise—demonstrates the trustworthiness of Scripture. The sweep from Syene to far-off China reveals a God who keeps His word across centuries and continents. 3. Messianic Mission The Servant’s role as “a light for the nations” (Isaiah 49:6) is amplified by Sinim’s mention: the Messiah does not merely restore ethnic Israel but builds a worldwide church. Missional Implications Isaiah 49:12 energizes the Great Commission mandate (Matthew 28:18-20). Whether Sinim designates ancient China, Southern Egypt, or another frontier, the text calls believers to engage cultures once deemed unreachable. Historically, Isaiah 49:12 was cited by early Protestant missionaries to China as biblical warrant for labor among the “ends of the earth.” Applications for Today • Pray and labor for Gospel penetration in today’s least-reached peoples, confident the promised ingathering includes them. Bibliography (Representative) Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, Volume 3. J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah. Nicholas T. Batzig, “From Zion to Sinim: Isaiah’s Global Mission Vision,” Westminster Theological Journal 78. Forms and Transliterations סִינִֽים׃ סינים׃ sî·nîm siNim sînîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 49:12 HEB: וְאֵ֖לֶּה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ סִינִֽים׃ NAS: And these from the land of Sinim. KJV: and these from the land of Sinim. INT: and these the land of Sinim |
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