Lexical Summary En Gedi: En Gedi Original Word: עֵין גֶּדִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance En-gedi From ayin and gdiy; fountain of a kid; En-Gedi, a place in Palestine -- En-gedi. see HEBREW ayin see HEBREW gdiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ayin and gedi Definition "spring of a kid," a place on W. shore of the Dead Sea NASB Translation Engedi (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֵין גֶּ֫דִי proper name, of a location Ενγαδδει, etc.; — עֵין גֶּ֑דִי מְצָדֹת 1 Samuel 23:29, ׳מִדְבַּר ע 1 Samuel 24:1, ׳כַּרְמֵי ע Songs 1:14; ׳ע = חַצְצוֺן תָּמָר (q. v.) according to 2Chronicles 20:2; עֵין גֶּ֨דִי֨ Ezekiel 47:10; modern ±Ain ³idî, on West shore of Dead Sea, GASmGeogr.269 f, 512 BuhlGeogr. 41.164 f. Topical Lexicon Location and Geography En Gedi is a well-watered oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, roughly midway between Masada and Qumran. Fed by perennial springs that cascade through the wadis of David and Arugot, it forms a fertile enclave amid the arid Judean Wilderness. Towering limestone cliffs, honeycombed with caves, rise above the lush valley floor, giving strategic shelter and commanding views of the desert approaches and the shimmering salt sea below. Biblical Occurrences • Joshua 15:62 places En Gedi within the wilderness allotment of the tribe of Judah. Historical Significance En Gedi’s perennial water made it the only sizeable oasis on Judah’s Dead Sea coast. Ancient agricultural terraces produced dates, grapes, and the famed balsam used for perfume and medicine. Its cliff-side caverns housed refugees, rebels, and monastics through the centuries, mirroring David’s earlier reliance on the site for survival and spiritual testing. The rocky fastness also enabled Judah to monitor traffic along the eastern frontier, explaining why foreign armies targeting Jerusalem first appeared at En Gedi (2 Chronicles 20:2). Flora, Fauna, and Natural Resources The springs nourish vineyards, henna bushes, palm groves, and aromatic balsam. Nubian ibex and rock hyrax still roam the escarpments, recalling the “wild goats” and “conies” known to biblical writers. These natural features supply the imagery of beauty, fragrance, and vitality that undergirds the Song of Songs 1:14 metaphor. Prophetic and Poetic Imagery In Song of Songs, En Gedi typifies abundance and romance—a garden sanctuary where love flourishes. Ezekiel uses it to mark the southern limit of his vision of restored waters, turning the former region of judgment into a place of life and commerce. Together the passages move from present delight to eschatological hope, weaving the oasis into Scripture’s larger theme of desert renewal. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Witness Excavations at Tel Goren (within modern Ein Gedi) reveal occupation layers from the Chalcolithic through the Byzantine eras, including an Iron-Age fort contemporary with the monarchy and a sixth-century synagogue whose mosaic reads, “Peace unto Israel.” Historical records note balsam plantations taxed by the Hasmoneans and coveted by Rome, underscoring the site’s economic value. Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. Refuge and formation: David’s time in En Gedi illustrates how God forges character in wilderness seasons, teaching trust while withholding immediate deliverance. Key References Joshua 15:62; 1 Samuel 23:29; 1 Samuel 24:1–7; 2 Chronicles 20:2; Song of Songs 1:14; Ezekiel 47:10 Forms and Transliterations גֶּ֑דִי גֶּ֙דִי֙ גֶּֽדִי׃ גדי גדי׃ ge·ḏî Gedi geḏîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:62 HEB: הַמֶּ֖לַח וְעֵ֣ין גֶּ֑דִי עָרִ֥ים שֵׁ֖שׁ NAS: and the City of Salt and Engedi; six KJV: and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six INT: and Nibshan and the City and Engedi cities six 1 Samuel 23:29 1 Samuel 24:1 2 Chronicles 20:2 Songs 1:14 Ezekiel 47:10 6 Occurrences |
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