Original Word: עַיִן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: `Ayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-yin)
KJV: Ain
Word Origin: [the same as H5869 (עַיִן - eyes)]

1. fountain
2. Ajin, the name (thus simply) of two places in Israel

Ain

The same as ayin; fountain; Ajin, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine -- Ain.

see HEBREW ayin

III. עַ֫יִן proper name, of a location 1. לָעָ֑יִן, on northeast border of Canaan Numbers 34:11, ᵐ5 ἐπὶ πηγάς

2. a. in Negeb of Judah Joshua 15:32 (+ וְרִמּוֺן), Levitical city Joshua 21:16 (but ᵐ5^B Ασα read עָשָׁן, as 1 Chronicles 6:44), apparently =

b. 1 Chronicles 19:7 (+ ׳ר; assigned to Simeon), ׳ר ׳וָע 1 Chronicles 4:32 (read probably ׳וְעֵין ר); probably modern Umm er-Ram¹-m£n, approximately 18 miles southwest from Hebrom, Buhl^Geogr.183. — see עֵין רִמּוֺן below

Topical Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 5871 designates the place-name “Ain,” literally “spring” or “fountain.” All five appearances cluster in texts that detail Israel’s territorial boundaries and administrative arrangements. Although seemingly minor, Ain’s repeated mention highlights three great biblical themes: the precision of God’s covenant promises, His provision of life-giving water in arid places, and the orderly distribution of land for worship and witness.

Geographical Setting

Ain lay in the arid south of Canaan, on the edge of the Negev. The description in Numbers 34:11 situates it east of Shepham and near the eastern slopes that descend toward the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). Later lists (Joshua and 1 Chronicles) pair Ain with Rimmon, suggesting two adjacent settlements fed by the same reliable spring. Some scholars connect the combined “En-rimmon” of Nehemiah 11:29 with this twin-town arrangement, indicating the spring was so central that both communities eventually bore its name.

Canonical References

• Numbers 34:11 – Boundary point for the eastern edge of the Promised Land.

“The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain, and continue down to reach the eastern slope of the Sea of Chinnereth.”

• Joshua 15:32 – Listed among twenty-nine Negev towns granted to Judah.

“Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, with their villages.”

• Joshua 19:7 – Reassigned to Simeon within Judah’s larger allotment.

“Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities, along with their villages.”

• Joshua 21:16 – Designated as a Levitical city for the descendants of Merari.

“Ain, Jattah, and Beth Shemesh—nine cities from these two tribes.”

• 1 Chronicles 4:32 – Appears in a post-conquest Simeonite settlement list.

“Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan—five towns in all.”

Historical Development

1. Boundary Marker (Numbers 34)

Before the conquest, Ain served as a survey point for Moses’ detailed border description. By naming an existing spring, Scripture anchors the covenant promise to real topography, demonstrating that the inheritance was neither mythical nor vague.

2. Judahite Town (Joshua 15)

After Joshua’s campaigns, Ain falls within Judah’s southern inheritance. Springs were strategic; a reliable water source supported agriculture, herding, and defense in the desert fringe.

3. Simeonite Enclave (Joshua 19; 1 Chronicles 4)

Because Judah’s territory proved more than ample, several Negev towns—Ain included—were shared with Simeon. This fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy that Simeon would be “scattered in Israel” (Genesis 49:7) while still experiencing covenant blessing through proximity to Judah.

4. Levitical Possession (Joshua 21)

The tribe of Levi received no broad territory; instead, specific towns were given so priests could minister among all Israel. Ain’s spring therefore sustained worship servants and ensured ready access to ritual purity—water being central to Levitical practice (Leviticus 15).

5. Post-exilic Identity (Nehemiah 11)

The hybrid name “En-rimmon” testifies to continuity. Even after exile, returning Judahites recognized the life-giving fountain and re-established community there, showing God’s preservation of both land and people.

Theological and Ministry Significance

Living Water Imagery

Ain literally means “spring,” echoing a wider biblical motif: God Himself is “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13). The town’s dependable source in a parched region embodied divine sustenance. For the Levites stationed there, every daily draw reinforced the spiritual truth they taught—that life, purity, and blessing flow from God alone.

Covenant Precision

The fivefold citation of Ain displays the reliability of Scripture’s historical claims. Each layer of redaction—from Moses to the Chronicler—confirms the same geographic reality. This consistency fortifies trust in broader covenant promises, including those ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Shared Inheritance

Ain moved from Judah to Simeon and to the Levites, illustrating hospitable stewardship within Israel. The spring that nourished many households portrays how God’s graces are meant to overflow from tribe to tribe and, in the gospel age, from church to world.

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

1. God marks our boundaries with care and provides refreshing springs even on the margins of life’s deserts.
2. Ministry thrives where physical and spiritual needs meet; a Levitical town by a spring is a parable for churches planted where living water can be offered to thirsty souls.
3. Faith remembers and retells God’s acts in specific places; memorializing divine provision fuels ongoing worship and obedience.

Ain’s brief appearances thus invite readers to celebrate the Lord who maps inheritances, sustains His servants, and transforms isolated springs into centers of covenant life.

וְעַ֣יִן וָעַ֔יִן ועין לָעָ֑יִן לעין עַ֣יִן עַ֥יִן ׀ עין ‘a·yin ‘ayin Ayin lā‘āyin lā·‘ā·yin laAyin vaAyin veAyin wā‘ayin wā·‘a·yin wə‘ayin wə·‘a·yinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts