Joshua 19:46 — Word Study
WLCוּמֵ֥י הַיַּרְק֖וֹן וְהָֽרַקּ֑וֹן עִֽם־ הַגְּב֖וּל מ֥וּל יָפֽוֹ׃
BSAMe-jarkonMêy hay-Yarqôwn [waters of yellowness, a town in Dan] and RakkonRaqqôwn△ [a place with plenty of water] includingʻim the territorygᵉbûwl [with the border] across frommûwl [opposite, before, over-against] JoppaYâphôw [a beautiful town, a key port]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּמֵ֥י | and [the] waters of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| הַיַּרְק֖וֹן | Jarkon | Particle, noun proper |
| וְהָֽרַקּ֑וֹן | and Rakkon | Conjunction, particle, noun proper |
| עִֽם־ | with | Preposition |
| הַגְּב֖וּל | the territory | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מ֥וּל | opposite to | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| יָפֽוֹ׃ | Joppa | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa. |
| KJV | And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. |
| ASV | and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa. |
| YLT | and Me-Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over-against Japho. |
| WEB | Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa. |
| BBE | And on the west was ... opposite Joppa. |
Where they part company is in the details of the towns mentioned — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by additional phrases that provide context and detail about the locations.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 19:46
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 — The Inheritance of the Tribe of Dangenerated
Joshua 19:46 describes the towns that were part of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan. It specifically mentions Me-jarkon and Rakkon, which are significant locations near Joppa. This context helps to understand the geographical and territorial divisions of the tribes of Israel, as well as their historical significance in the Promised Land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonah 1:3 | Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. |
| 2 | Acts 9:36–43 | In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. |
| 3 | Acts 10:8 | He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָפוֹ, mulgenerated
The word יָפוֹ (ya.Fo) refers to Joppa, a notable seaport town in Palestine. It is derived from a root meaning 'beautiful,' which reflects the town's reputation. Joppa was a key port during the reign of King Solomon, as noted in 2 Chronicles 2:16.
In this verse, Joppa is mentioned as a reference point for the territory of Dan, indicating its importance as a geographical landmark. The inclusion of Joppa emphasizes the strategic and commercial significance of the area.
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 finite verb is absent, as this verse primarily lists nouns and phrases. The structure is straightforward, presenting a series of locations and their relationships. The main elements include the towns Me-jarkon and Rakkon, followed by the description of their geographical context.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the towns first, followed by the prepositional phrase that indicates their position relative to Joppa. This structure highlights the importance of these locations in the inheritance of the tribe of Dan.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint does not provide a direct translation for this verse, as only one of the seven words is matched. This indicates a significant difference in how the Hebrew text was understood and rendered in Greek, showing the complexities of translation across languages.
The absence of a complete correspondence suggests that the Septuagint translators may have had a different focus or interpretation of the text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 19:46 lists Me-jarkon and Rakkon as towns in the territory of Dan, highlighting their location across from Joppa. This verse helps to understand the geographical layout of the tribes of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
These towns are part of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan and indicate important geographical locations in the region.
Joppa serves as a reference point for the territory of Dan, highlighting its significance as a key port and beautiful town.
The term 'territory' refers to the defined area that was allocated to the tribe of Dan, including its borders and towns.
This verse contributes to the broader narrative of the allocation of land to the tribes of Israel as they settle in the Promised Land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn about the importance of geographical locations in the Bible from this verse?
- How does understanding the inheritance of the tribes of Israel help me in my study of Scripture?
- What significance do towns like Joppa hold in the biblical narrative?
- How can I apply the concept of territory and inheritance to my own life and faith journey?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 19:46 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Mejarkon, and Rakkon,.... Of the two first of these we read no where else.
Read John Gill on Joshua 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. Me-jarkon - waters of yellowness [Septuagint, apo thalassees Ierakoon]. The name was derived from a fountain or stream in the neighbourhood of the city.
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 19 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(41-46) All the towns mentioned here are identified by Conder. Zorah—Sur’ahEshtaol—Eshû’aIr-shemesh—Ain Sheme Shaalabbin—SelbîtAjalon—YâloJethlah—(Ruin) Beit TulAre all in sheet 17Elon—Beit ElloThimnathah—(Ruin) TibnehSheet 14Ekron-(akir, sheet 16)13For Gath-rimmon, Conder suggests Gath; but this he identifies with Tell-es-Safi, which is well within the territory of Judah (to the south of sheet 16). Me-jarkon, “the yellow water,” is thought to be the river ’Aujeh (sheet 13), and Rakkon, Tell-er-Rakkeit, to the north of the mouth of it. Japho is Jaffa, on the same sheet.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 46. Japho.] The place since called Joppa, lying on the Mediterranean, and the chief sea-port, in the possession of the twelve tribes.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges46. Me-jarkon, and Rakkon] still remain to be discovered. with the border before Japho] i.e. with the whole district extending to the suburbs opposite to Japho. Japho] (= “beauty”) is the Hebrew form of the more familiar Joppa (2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezekiel 3:7). It was situated on the south-west coast of Palestine, and having a harbour attached to it was afterwards the port of Jerusalem. It was the spot (a) whither the cedar and pinewood were floated from Phœnicia by Hiram, king of Tyre, for Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 2:16); (b) whither similar materials were conveyed by the permission of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the second temple under Zerubbabel (Ezekiel 3:7); (c) where Jonah took…
Read Cambridge on Joshua 19 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleJapho (the modern Jaffa, or Yafa), elsewhere (see the margin) called Joppa, is often mentioned in the history of the Maccabees and was, as it still is, the leading port of access to Jerusalem both
Read Albert Barnes on Joshua 19 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible[46. Japho — The ancient Joppa, modern Jaffa, the famous seaport town of Palestine, distinguishable alike in sacred and common history.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 19 →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
Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.
Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa.
Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.
the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa.
Tyndale line
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
And Me-iarkon, and Rakkon, with the border that lieth before Iapho.
Strictly literal
and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Japho.
and Me-Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over-against Japho.
and Me-Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border in front of Joppa.
And Me-hayarkon, and Rakkon, with the boundary before Yapho.
Me Jarkon, and Rakkon along with the territory across from Joppa.
From the Latin
And Mejarcon and Arecon, with the border that looketh towards Joppe,
Simplified
Me-jarkon, Rakkon, along with the territory opposite Joppa.
And on the west was ... opposite Joppa.
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 presents this verse as it is found in the Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint, however, only matches one of the seven words, indicating a lack of direct equivalence in this instance.
וּמֵ֥י הַיַּרְק֖וֹן וְהָֽרַקּ֑וֹן עִֽם־ הַגְּב֖וּל מ֥וּל יָפֽוֹ׃
1 of the 7 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 19:46
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.
מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן n.pr.loc. in Dan, near Joppa Jos 19:46
ref
H4313 מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן
4313 Mey hay-Yarqown may hah'-ee-yar-kone'
from 4325 and 3420 with the art. interposed; water of the
yellowness; Me-haj-Jarkon, a place in Palestine:--Me-jarkon.
see HEBREW for 04325
see HEBREW for 03420
מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן (me hay.yar.qon) — Me-jarkon.
§ Me-jarkon = "waters of yellowness"
a town in Dan near Joppa
N-proper — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן n.pr.loc. in Dan, near Joppa Jos 19:46
ref
H4313 מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן
4313 Mey hay-Yarqown may hah'-ee-yar-kone'
from 4325 and 3420 with the art. interposed; water of the
yellowness; Me-haj-Jarkon, a place in Palestine:--Me-jarkon.
see HEBREW for 04325
see HEBREW for 03420
מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן (me hay.yar.qon) — Me-jarkon.
§ Me-jarkon = "waters of yellowness"
a town in Dan near Joppa
HTd/Npl — Particle · noun properHTd/Npl
רַקּוֹן (Raqqown) refers to a location in Palestine, specifically a place in the territory of Dan. It is associated with thinness and is noted in Joshua 19:46. The name may also imply a well-watered area near Joppa.
רַקּוֹן n.pr.loc. in Dan, Jos 19:46
ref
H7542 רַקּוֹן
7542 Raqqown rak-kone'
from 7534; thinness; Rakkon, a place in Palestine:--Rakkon.
see HEBREW for 07534
רַקּוֹן (raq.qon) — Rakkon.
§ Rakkon = "the temple"
a well-watered place in Dan near Joppa
Conj | Art | N-proper — Conjunction · particle · noun properHC/Td/Npl
rak'-on (ha-raqqon; Hierakon).
See ME-JARKON.
Rakkon
A place upon the shore, a town belonging to Dan (Josh. 19:46). It is now Tell er-Rakkeit, 6 miles north of Joppa, on the sea-shore, near the mouth of the river ‘Aujeh, i.e., “yellow water.” (See KANAH.)
(the temple) (of the head), a well-watered place in the inheritance of Dan, not fur from Joppa. (Joshua 19:46)
vain; void; mountain of enjoyment
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.
גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory
border, boundary
territory (enclosed within boundary)
base
H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory
1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'
or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord
(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the
territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,
limit, quarter, space.
see HEBREW for 01379
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.
: boundary
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.
: area
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
מוּל (mul) means 'front' or 'in front of,' and is used adverbially to indicate position or direction. It can refer to being opposite or toward the front of something. The word is derived from a root meaning 'abrupt' or 'precipice,' and appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 1:1 and Numbers 22:5.
מוּל, מוֹל, מוֹאל subst. and prep. front, in front of
base
H4136 מוּל, מוֹל, מוֹאל front, in front of
4136 muwl mool
or mowl (Deuteronomy 1:1) {mole}; or mowtl (Nehemiah 12:38)
{mole}; or mul (Numbers 22:5) {mool}; from 4135; properly,
abrupt, i.e. a precipice; by implication, the front; used only
adverbially (with prepositional prefix) opposite:--(over)
against, before, (fore-)front, from, (God-)ward, toward, with.
see HEBREW for 04135
מוּל (mul) — opposite.
1) front
1a) front
1b) in the opposite direction
prep
2) in front of
2a) in front of
2b) (with prefix)
2b1) towards the front of, to the front of, on the front of
2b2) from the front of, off the front of, close in front of, on the forefront of
Prep — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
יָפוֹ (Yapho) refers to Joppa, a seaport town in Palestine known for its beauty. The name is derived from the root meaning 'beautiful' and is associated with the territory of Dan. It became the primary port for Jerusalem during Solomon's reign. The lexicons note its Greek equivalent, Ioppē.
יָפוֹ, יָפוֹא n.pr.loc. Joppa—seaport town of Palestine (Jerusalem)
base
H3305 יָפוֹ, יָפוֹא
3305 Yapho yaw-fo'
or Yaphow (Ezra 3:7) {yaw-fo'}; from 3302; beautiful; Japho,
a place in Palestine:--Japha, Joppa.
see HEBREW for 03302
יָפוֹ (ya.pho) — Joppa.
Joppa or Japho = "beautiful"
a town on the southwest coast of Palestine in the territory of Dan; became primary port of Jerusalem during reign of Solomon
Also named: Ioppē (Ἰόππη "Joppa" G2445)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
jop'-a (yapho, yapho'; Ioppe): In Jos 19:46 the King James Version called "Japho," a city in the territory allotted to Dan; but there is nothing to show that in pre-exilic times it ever passed into Israelite hands.
1. Ancient Notices:
"The gate of Joppa" is mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (214, 32 f; compare 178, 20), as guarded by an Egyptian officer for Amenhotep IV. It was conquered by Thothmes III, and old Egyptian records speak of the excellence of its gardens and fruit trees. Sennacherib claims to have taken Jonathas after a siege (Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek, 2, 93). To Jonathas, the Chronicler tells us, the cedars of Lebanon were brought in floats for transportation to Jerusalem by the workmen of the king of Tyre (2Ch 2:16).
2. Biblical References:
Joppa
Beauty, a town in the portion of Dan (Josh. 19:46; A.V., “Japho”), on a sandy promontory between Caesarea and Gaza, and at a distance of 30 miles north-west from Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest towns in Asia. It was and still is the chief sea-port of Judea. It was never wrested from the Phoenicians. It became a Jewish town only in the second century B.C. It was from this port that Jonah “took ship to flee from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). To this place also the wood cut in Lebanon by Hiram’s men for Solomon was brought in floats (2 Chr. 2:16); and here the material for the building of the second temple was also landed (Ezra 3:7). At Joppa, in the house of…
Hebrew JAPHO, is one of the most ancient seaports in the world. It was a border town of the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:46, on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, thirty miles south of Caesarea, and about thirty-five north-west of Jerusalem. Its harbor is shoal and unprotected from the winds; but on account of its convenience to Jerusalem, it became the principal port of Judea, and is still the great landing-place of pilgrims. Here the materials for building both the first and the second temple, sent from Lebanon and Tyre, were landed, 2Ch 3:16 Ezr 3:7. Here Jonah embarked for Tarshish. Here, too, Peter raised Dorcas from the dead; and in the house of Simon the tanner, by the seaside, was taught by a heavenly vision that salvation was…
beauty; comeliness