Joshua 21:29 — Word Study
WLCאֶת־ יַרְמוּת֙ וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ אֶת־ עֵ֥ין גַּנִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ עָרִ֖ים אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס
BSAJarmuthYarmûwth [a city of heights] and En-gannimʻÊyn Gannîym [fountain of the garden] fourʼarbaʻ [a simple counting number] citiesʻîyr [towns with walls or watchmen] together withʼêth their pasturelandsmigrâsh [open lands, common areas, or suburbs]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| יַרְמוּת֙ | Jarmuth | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ | pasture lands its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| עֵ֥ין | En | Noun proper |
| גַּנִּ֖ים | Gannim | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ | pasture lands its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| עָרִ֖ים | cities | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס | four | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Jarmuth, and En-gannim—four cities, together with their pasturelands. |
| KJV | Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs; four cities. |
| ASV | Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities. |
| YLT | Jarmuth and its suburbs, En-Gannim and its suburbs — four cities. |
| WEB | Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities. |
| BBE | Jarmuth and En-gannim with their grass-lands, four towns. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of מִגְרָשׁ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause identifying the cities, followed by a phrase describing their pasturelands.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 21:29
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Cities Allocated to the Levitesgenerated
Joshua 21:29 identifies Jarmuth and En-gannim as cities given to the Levites from the tribe of Issachar. This allocation is part of a broader distribution of cities among the tribes of Israel, ensuring that the Levites, who served religious duties, had places to dwell and pasture for their livestock. The mention of pasturelands indicates the importance of land for sustenance and livelihood in ancient Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 10:3–23 | Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, |
| 2 | Joshua 12:11 | the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַרְמוּת, yar.Mutgenerated
The name יַרְמוּת (yar-Moot) means 'heights' and refers specifically to a city in Palestine that was allocated to the Gershonite Levites. Its etymology suggests an elevation, indicating its geographical significance.
Jarmuth is one of the Levitical cities mentioned in the Bible, underscoring its role in the religious and social structure of Israel. The word's usage in this context highlights its importance as a designated city for the Levites.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb that is implied in the structure, with several noun phrases detailing the cities and their attributes. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the cities followed by their respective pasturelands.
The structure is straightforward, listing the cities alongside their pasturelands, indicating a clear distribution of land and resources.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the cities as Ἰαμυθ and Ἐν-Γαννίμ, maintaining the original names but adapting them to Greek phonetics. This shows a continuity in the recognition of these cities across cultures.
The choice of words in the Septuagint reflects a similar understanding of the cities' significance, though the word order differs from the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 21:29 lists Jarmuth and En-gannim as cities given to the Levites, along with their pasturelands. These cities were important for the Levites' sustenance and service in Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jarmuth means 'heights' and refers to a city in Palestine allocated to the Levites.
Pasturelands are important for providing grazing areas for livestock, essential for the livelihood of the Levites.
Cities were allocated to the Levites to ensure they had places to live and resources to sustain their ministry in Israel.
This verse mentions four cities: Jarmuth and En-gannim, along with their pasturelands.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about the importance of land and resources in the context of community and service?
- How does the allocation of cities to the Levites reflect their role in ancient Israel?
- What significance do names like Jarmuth and En-gannim hold in understanding the geography of biblical narratives?
- How can we apply the concept of designated spaces for service in our own communities today?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 21:29 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleJarmuth with her suburbs,.... Called Ramoth, 1 Chronicles 6:73; very probably the same with Remeth, Joshua 19:21; Engannim with her suburbs; called Anem, 1 Chronicles 6:73; four cities; so many are mentioned by name.
Read John Gill on Joshua 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges29. Jarmuth] Called Remeth in Joshua 19:21; Ramoth in 1 Chronicles 6:73; En-gannim, see Joshua 19:21.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 21 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible28-39. Dabareh — Joshua 19:12. En-gannim — Joshua 19:21.Kedesh — Joshua 12:22. Jokneam — Joshua 12:22. Ramoth — Joshua 13:26. Heshbon — Joshua 13:17; Joshua 13:26. Jazer — Joshua 13:25.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 21 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Jarmuth, and En-gannim—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities.
Jarmuth, and En-gannim—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities;
Tyndale line
Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs; four cities.
Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannin with her suburbs; four cities.
Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
Iarmuth with her suburbes, En-gannim with her suburbes: foure cities.
Strictly literal
Jarmuth and its suburbs, En-gannim and its suburbs: four cities;
Jarmuth and its suburbs, En-Gannim and its suburbs — four cities.
Jarmuth and its outskirts, En-Gannim and its outskirts—four cities.
Yarmuth with its open spaces, 'En-gannim with its open spaces: four cities.
Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En Gannim with its pasturelands—four cities.
From the Latin
And Jaramoth, and Engannim, with their suburbs, four cities.
Simplified
Jarmuth, and En-gannim.
Jarmuth and En-gannim with their grass-lands, four towns.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the identification of Jarmuth and En-gannim as cities allocated to the Levites. The Septuagint preserves the names but presents them in a different order, indicating a consistent recognition of these locations.
אֶת־ יַרְמוּת֙ וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ אֶת־ עֵ֥ין גַּנִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ עָרִ֖ים אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס
6 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 21:29
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Conj | DirObjM — ParticleHTo
יַרְמוּת (yar-moot) refers to Jarmuth, which means "heights." It denotes two locations in Palestine: a Canaanite city with a king situated between Hebron and Lachish, and a Levitical city in Issachar assigned to the Gershonite Levites. The word is derived from H7311, indicating elevation.
יַרְמוּת n.pr.loc.
Canaanitish city, with a king, named between Hebron and Lachish
Levitical city in Issachar
base
H3412 יַרְמוּת
3412 Yarmuwth yar-mooth'
from 7311; elevation; Jarmuth, the name of two places in
Palestine:--Jarmuth.
see HEBREW for 07311
יַרְמוּת (yar.mut) — Jarmuth.
§ Jarmuth = "heights"
a Canaanitish city in the lowlands of Judah with a king and located between Hebron and Lachish
יַרְמוּת (yar.mut) — Jarmuth.
§ Jarmuth = "heights"
a Levitical city of Issachar allocated to the Gershonite Levites
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
jar'-muth (yarmuth:
(1) A city of the Canaanites in the Shephelah (Jos 15:35) of Judah whose "king," Piram, joined the league of the "five kings" against Joshua (Jos 10:3-5), was defeated at Gibeon and slain at Makkedah (10:23). One of the 31 "kings" defeated in Joshua' s campaign (Jos 12:11). In Jos 15:35 it is mentioned in conjunction with Adullam, Socoh and Azekah, and in Ne 11:29 with Zorah, Zanoah and Adullam. Cheyne (Encyclopedia Biblica) suggests that the "Maroth" of Mic 1:12 may be a copyist's error for Jarmuth. In Eusebius, Onomasticon (OS2 132 31; 266 38)…
Jarmuth
Height. (1.) A town in the plain of Judah (Josh. 15:35), originally the residence of one of the Canaanitish kings (10:3, 5, 23). It has been identified with the modern Yarmuk, a village about 7 miles north-east of Beit-Jibrin.
(2.) A Levitical city of the tribe of Issachar (Josh. 21:29), supposed by some to be the Ramah of Samuel (1 Sam. 19:22).
(high). A town in the low country of Judah. (Joshua 16:35) Its king, Piram, was one of the five who conspired. to punish Gibeon for having made alliance with Israel, (Joshua 10:3,5) and who were routed at Beth-horon and put to death by Joshua at Makkedah. ver. 33. Its site is probably the modern Yarmuk . A city of Issachar allotted with its suburbs to the Gershonite Levites. (Joshua 21:29)
fearing, or seeing, or throwing down, death
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מִגְרָשׁ (migrash) refers to common or open land, often associated with areas where flocks are driven for pasture. It can denote a suburb or the space around a building, and is noted in Ezekiel 27:28. The term is derived from a root meaning to drive out.
מִגְרָשׁ n.m. common, common-land, open land
base
H4054 מִגְרָשׁ
4054 migrash mig-rawsh'
also (in plural) feminine (Ezek. 27:28) migrashah
{mig-raw-shaw'}; from 1644; a suburb (i.e. open country
whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area
around a building, or the margin of the sea:--cast out,
suburb.
see HEBREW for 01644
מִגְרָשׁ (mig.rash) — pasture.
common, common land, open land, suburb
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
עֵין גַּנִּים n.pr.loc.
in the Shephelah
in Issachar
base
H5873 עֵין גַּנִּים, עָנֵם
5873 `Eyn Ganniym ane gan-neem'
from 5869 and the plural of 1588; fountain of gardens;
En-Gannim, a place in Palestine:--En-gannim.
see HEBREW for 05869
see HEBREW for 01588
עֵין גַּנִּים (en gan.nim) — En-gannim.
§ En-gannim = "fountain of the garden"
a city in the low country of Judah
עֵין גַּנִּים (en gan.nim) — En-gannim.
En-gannim = "fountain of the garden"
a city on the border of Issachar and allotted to the Gershonite Levites
Also named: a.nem (עָנֵם "Anem" H6046)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
at the beginning of many Hebrew words, signifies a spring or fountain.
A fountain compounded with many names of towns and places; as En- dor, En-gedi, En-eglaim, En-shemesh, that is, the fountain of Dor, etc.
עֵין גַּנִּים n.pr.loc.
in the Shephelah
in Issachar
base
H5873 עֵין גַּנִּים, עָנֵם
5873 `Eyn Ganniym ane gan-neem'
from 5869 and the plural of 1588; fountain of gardens;
En-Gannim, a place in Palestine:--En-gannim.
see HEBREW for 05869
see HEBREW for 01588
עֵין גַּנִּים (en gan.nim) — En-gannim.
§ En-gannim = "fountain of the garden"
a city in the low country of Judah
עֵין גַּנִּים (en gan.nim) — En-gannim.
En-gannim = "fountain of the garden"
a city on the border of Issachar and allotted to the Gershonite Levites
Also named: a.nem (עָנֵם "Anem" H6046)
HNpl — Noun properHNpl
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מִגְרָשׁ (migrash) refers to common or open land, often associated with areas where flocks are driven for pasture. It can denote a suburb or the space around a building, and is noted in Ezekiel 27:28. The term is derived from a root meaning to drive out.
מִגְרָשׁ n.m. common, common-land, open land
base
H4054 מִגְרָשׁ
4054 migrash mig-rawsh'
also (in plural) feminine (Ezek. 27:28) migrashah
{mig-raw-shaw'}; from 1644; a suburb (i.e. open country
whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area
around a building, or the margin of the sea:--cast out,
suburb.
see HEBREW for 01644
מִגְרָשׁ (mig.rash) — pasture.
common, common land, open land, suburb
HNcmpc/Sp3fs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;