Lexical Summary En Mishpat: En Mishpat Original Word: עֵין מִשְׁפָּט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance En-mishpat From ayin and mishpat; fountain of judgment; En-Mishpat, a place near Palestine -- En-mishpat. see HEBREW ayin see HEBREW mishpat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ayin and mishpat Definition "spring of judgment," another name for a place called Kadesh NASB Translation En-mishpat (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֵין מִשְׁמָּטּ proper name, of a location Genesis 14:7 = קָדֵשׁ (בַּרְנֵעַׅ q. v. (ᵐ5 τὴν πηγὴν τὴν κρίσεως; on significance of name compare RSSem i. 165, 2nd ed. 181). Topical Lexicon Etymology and Meaning En-mishpat is literally “spring of judgment,” a title that hints at both a life-giving water source and a place where decisive matters are settled. Scripture equates the site with Kadesh, the well-known oasis on the southern edge of Canaan (Genesis 14:7). Geographic Setting Most scholars locate En-mishpat/Kadesh at or near the large oasis of ‑Qudeirat in the northeastern Sinai or northern Negev. The presence of abundant water in an otherwise arid region made it a natural stopover for nomads, traders, and armies alike. Its position at the crossroads of the Wilderness of Paran, the Wilderness of Zin, and the Way of Shur explains its repeated appearance in journeys recorded from Abraham to the Exodus generation. Biblical Context in Genesis 14 Genesis 14:7 records the only explicit mention of En-mishpat by that name: “Then they turned back and went to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.” 1. The verse sits within the campaign of a Mesopotamian coalition led by Chedorlaomer. Relationship to Kadesh in Israel’s Wilderness Sojourn Although the name En-mishpat drops from view after Genesis 14, the identity “Kadesh” dominates the Pentateuch: Thus the site marks repeated turning points: unbelief of the first generation, patience of the LORD, provision of water, and transition toward conquest. En-mishpat’s earlier appearance underlines that Israel’s testing ground was already linked to judgment long before Sinai. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Nations – The Genesis narrative portrays foreign kings sweeping through Canaan, yet Scripture positions Abram—and by extension God’s covenant purposes—as the ultimate victor. En-mishpat becomes a waypoint proving that no earthly coalition can thwart redemptive history. Ministry Applications • Places of apparent barrenness can become fountains of renewal; pastors may draw on Kadesh imagery when encouraging believers in desert seasons. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration Excavations at ‑Qudeirat reveal Iron Age fortresses and abundant pottery, affirming long-term occupation of a sizable oasis capable of sustaining large groups. Egyptian texts refer to the region as “Qdst,” a possible cognate of Kadesh, indicating geopolitical relevance in the second millennium B.C. Cross-References within Scripture Genesis 16:14; Numbers 32:8; Deuteronomy 32:51; Psalm 106:32 illustrate Kadesh’s continued theological weight. Hebrews 3:7-19 echoes the Kadesh rebellion when exhorting believers to persevere, thereby extending En-mishpat’s lessons into the New Covenant era. Summary En-mishpat, the “spring of judgment,” surfaces only once by name yet anchors a biblical geography of decision, provision, and divine verdict. Situated at a lifeline in the desert, it witnesses Abram’s faith, Israel’s wavering, and God’s unwavering purposes—making it a potent symbol for personal and corporate discipleship today. Forms and Transliterations מִשְׁפָּט֙ משפט miš·pāṭ mishPat mišpāṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:7 HEB: אֶל־ עֵ֤ין מִשְׁפָּט֙ הִ֣וא קָדֵ֔שׁ NAS: and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), KJV: to Enmishpat, which [is] Kadesh, INT: and came to to En-mishpat he which Kadesh 1 Occurrence |
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