Lexical Summary Qanah: To acquire, to buy, to purchase, to possess Original Word: קָנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kanah Feminine of qaneh; reediness; Kanah, the name of a stream and of a place in Palestine -- Kanah. see HEBREW qaneh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as qaneh Definition a wadi between Ephraim and Manasseh, also a city in Asher NASB Translation Kanah (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs קָנָה proper name 1 of wady between Ephraim and Manass, ׳נַחַל ק Joshua 16:8; Joshua 17:9 (both P), Κα(ρα)να, Καναι, etc.; identification by Rob BR iii. 135. with Wady Kânah, south and southwest of Nablûs, compare BuhlGeogr. 101, 105. 2. loc in Asher, Joshua 19:28, Καν(θ)α(ν), etc.; probably †âna, southeast from Tyre RobBR ii 455 f. Buhl299, Egyptian Ka°nô WMMAs.u.Eur.181, and perhaps Tel Amarna †anû. Topical Lexicon Etymology and Geographic Setting Kanah, translated “reeds” or “reed-brook,” designates both a watercourse and a settlement in the northern hill country of ancient Israel. The brook descends westward from the highlands of Samaria toward the Mediterranean Sea, draining a fertile valley that separates portions of the central hill country from the coastal plain. Because reeds flourish in slow-moving streams, the name evokes an image of life and provision in an otherwise rugged landscape. Biblical Occurrences 1. Joshua 16:8 identifies Kanah as the western boundary of Ephraim: “From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.” Role in Tribal Boundaries of Canaan Kanah functioned as a natural landmark in the allocation of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 15:18). By marking the territorial edges of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Asher, the brook and town illustrate the ordered distribution recorded by Joshua. The boundary underscores God’s faithfulness: each tribe received its portion “by lot in the presence of the Lord” (Joshua 18:6). For Ephraim and Manasseh the brook distinguished inheritance while maintaining kinship, reflecting both unity and diversity within Israel. Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Kanah’s inclusion in the conquest narratives testifies that divine promises reach down to the very contours of geography. The Lord’s covenant encompasses not only people but also place, reminding believers today that God’s redemptive plan engages the physical world. Archaeological and Historical Considerations Scholars commonly identify the brook with Wadi Qana, which originates near modern Nablus and enters the Mediterranean near Jaffa. Surveys have uncovered ancient terracing and winepresses along its course, confirming the agricultural richness implied in Scripture. The Asherite town is usually placed farther north, near the Phoenician border, perhaps modern Qana el-Jelil in Lebanon. While exact sites remain debated, the geographical reality of these locations lends historical weight to the biblical record. Further Reading Joshua 15–19 for the full allotment narratives. Psalm 78 for theological reflection on Israel’s inheritance. Ezekiel 47:1-12 for prophetic development of the river-of-life theme. Forms and Transliterations וְקָנָ֑ה וקנה קָנָ֔ה קָנָ֜ה קנה kaNah qā·nāh qānāh vekaNah wə·qā·nāh wəqānāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 16:8 HEB: יָ֙מָּה֙ נַ֣חַל קָנָ֔ה וְהָי֥וּ תֹצְאֹתָ֖יו NAS: to the brook of Kanah, and it ended KJV: unto the river Kanah; and the goings out INT: westward to the brook of Kanah and the goings out Joshua 17:9 Joshua 19:28 3 Occurrences |
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