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H5044 · Hebrew · Old Testament
נִבְשָׁן
Nibshan
Proper noun
Nibshan

Definition

Nibshan was a town in the wilderness district of Judah, listed among the six "cities of the wilderness" in Joshua 15:62. The name may mean "soft soil" or "prophecy." Some scholars have identified it with Khirbet el-Maqari near the Dead Sea, though the exact location remains debated.

Usage & Theological Significance

The listing of Nibshan among the wilderness cities of Judah demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the land allotment under Joshua. Even desolate and seemingly insignificant wilderness settlements were included in God's gift of the promised land. This thoroughness reflects the biblical principle that every portion of the inheritance matters, and that God's provision extends to even the most barren places.

Key Bible Verses

Joshua 15:62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi — six towns and their villages.
Joshua 15:61In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah.
Joshua 15:1The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom.
Joshua 14:1Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan.
Psalm 63:1You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you in a dry and parched land.

Related Words

External Resources

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