5873. En Gannim
Lexical Summary
En Gannim: En Gannim

Original Word: עֵין גַּנִּים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: `Eyn Ganniym
Pronunciation: ān gan-Nĭm
Phonetic Spelling: (ane gan-neem')
KJV: En-gannim
NASB: En-gannim
Word Origin: [from H5869 (עַיִן - eyes) and the plural of H1588 (גַּן - garden)]

1. fountain of gardens
2. En-Gannim, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
En-gannim

From ayin and the plural of gan; fountain of gardens; En-Gannim, a place in Palestine -- En-gannim.

see HEBREW ayin

see HEBREW gan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ayin and gan
Definition
"spring of a garden," two places in Isr.
NASB Translation
En-gannim (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֵין גַּנִּים proper name, of a location 1. in the Shephelah of Judah Joshua 15:34, perhaps Umm-³îna, approximately1mile South of West from Bethshemesh ClGann BuhlGeogr.194 f.

2 in Issachar Joshua 19:21 (A Ηνγαννιμ), Levitical city Joshua 21:29 (πηγὴν γραμμάτων); hence by text error עָנֵם 1 Chronicles 6:58; Gennin, near Southeast end of plain of Jezreel, approximately 15 miles north-northeast from Samaria, BuhlGeogr.202.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

En Gannim, literally “spring of gardens,” evokes imagery of life-giving water nourishing fertile plots. In Scripture the name identifies two distinct towns whose shared title points to refreshment and fruitfulness—qualities that resonate with the covenant blessings promised to Israel.

Geographical Setting

1. Shephelah of Judah (Joshua 15:34). Listed among the lowland towns west of Jerusalem, this En Gannim lay amid rolling foothills where subterranean springs surface.
2. Tribal territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:21). Situated on the southern edge of the Jezreel Valley, near present-day Jenin, it later became a Levitical city for the sons of Gershon (Joshua 21:29).

Biblical Occurrences

Joshua 15:34 sets En Gannim in Judah’s second district, between Zenan and Tappuah.
Joshua 19:21 notes it as a boundary marker within Issachar alongside En Haddah and Shimron.
Joshua 21:29 records its transfer to the Gershonite Levites, affirming its strategic and spiritual value.

Historical Context

After the Conquest the land was apportioned by lot. The presence of two towns with identical names reflects both the abundance of natural springs and Israel’s hope that each inheritance would become a “garden” under Yahweh’s favor. In Issachar, the placement of Levites established a teaching and worship center in the fertile Jezreel corridor, ensuring priestly instruction reached a crossroads of commerce and culture (Deuteronomy 33:10).

Thematic Significance

Water imagery saturates biblical theology: wells, springs, and rivers symbolize divine provision (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:14). A “spring of gardens” thus anticipates the prophetic restoration where “the Lord will guide you continually…and you will be like a watered garden” (Isaiah 58:11). By situating worshipping Levites at En Gannim, the Lord linked spiritual refreshment with physical abundance.

Prophetic and Ministry Applications

• Stewardship of inheritance: Both Judah and Issachar were called to cultivate what God entrusted, illustrating Paul’s charge, “Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
• Priesthood in everyday life: The Levites’ presence among agriculturists models the integration of sacred service with ordinary vocations, a foreshadowing of the royal priesthood granted to all believers (1 Peter 2:9).
• Springs amid battlefields: The Issachar site lay near future conflicts (Judges 5; 2 Kings 9). Yet the name testified that even contested ground can become a garden under divine oversight.

Lessons for Believers Today

1. Seek living water—Christ is the true En Gannim who invites the weary to drink freely.
2. Cultivate fruitfulness—like well-tended gardens, families and churches should bear visible evidence of grace (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. Uphold teaching centers—invest in ministries that combine truth with practical care, following the Levitical example.

En Gannim, though briefly mentioned, underscores God’s desire to plant His people by streams of water so that their leaf does not wither and “whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

Forms and Transliterations
גַּנִּ֔ים גַּנִּ֖ים גַּנִּ֛ים גנים gan·nîm ganNim gannîm
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 15:34
HEB: וְזָנ֙וֹחַ֙ וְעֵ֣ין גַּנִּ֔ים תַּפּ֖וּחַ וְהָעֵינָֽם׃
NAS: and Zanoah and En-gannim, Tappuah
KJV: And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah,
INT: and Zanoah and En-gannim Tappuah and Enam

Joshua 19:21
HEB: וְרֶ֧מֶת וְעֵין־ גַּנִּ֛ים וְעֵ֥ין חַדָּ֖ה
NAS: and Remeth and En-gannim and En-haddah
KJV: And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah,
INT: and Remeth and En-gannim and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez

Joshua 21:29
HEB: אֶת־ עֵ֥ין גַּנִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
NAS: lands, En-gannim with its pasture lands;
KJV: with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs;
INT: Jarmuth pasture En-gannim lands cities

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5873
3 Occurrences


gan·nîm — 3 Occ.

5872
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