Original Word: שִׁיחוֹר לְבְנָת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Shiychowr Libnath
Pronunciation: shee-khor lib-nath
Phonetic Spelling: (shee-khore' lib-nawth')
KJV: Shihor-libnath
NASB: Shihor-libnath
Word Origin: [from the same as H7883 (שִׁיחוֹר שִׁחוֹר שִׁחוֹר - Nile) and H3835 (לָבַן - To be white)]

1. darkish whiteness
2. Shichor-Libnath, a stream of Israel

Shihor-libnath

From the same as Shiychowr and laban; darkish whiteness; Shichor-Libnath, a stream of Palestine -- Shihor-libnath.

see HEBREW Shiychowr

see HEBREW laban

Word Origin
from the same as Shichor and from laben
Definition
a stream in Asher
NASB Translation
Shihor-libnath (1).

שִׁיחוֺר לִבְנַת proper name, of a river in Asher, Joshua 19:26; τῷ Σειων[ρ] καὶ Λαβαναθ; possibly Nahr ez Zer‡â, south of Carmel, and just north of Caesarea, Wilson^{Hast. DB SHIHOR LIBNATH,} but see Buhl^{G 105}.

שַׁיִט see I. שׁוט.

שִׁילוֺ, שִׁלוֺ

proper name, of a location, שִׁילֹנִי etc., see שִׁלֹה.

Biblical Occurrence and Context

Shihor-Libnath appears once in Scripture, in the territorial description of Asher: “Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath” (Joshua 19:26). The single mention situates the site as a western landmark marking Asher’s inheritance after Israel entered the land under Joshua.

Geographical Setting

The boundary point is linked to Mount Carmel and the Mediterranean coastal plain. Most scholars associate Shihor-Libnath with a short, seasonally flowing stream that empties into the sea just north of Carmel—often identified with Nahr ez-Zerqa (the Crocodile River) or another nearby wadi whose waters run dark over chalky, white limestone beds. The compound name—combining imagery of both “dark” and “white”—likely arose from the visual contrast between the stream’s tinted water and the pale banks or riverbed. Whatever its precise modern correlate, the site stood at the threshold between fertile coastal territory and the rugged Carmel range, underscoring the diversity of the land apportioned to Asher.

Historical Significance for the Tribe of Asher

1. Boundary Marker: Asher’s western limit ran to the sea (Joshua 19:29). Shihor-Libnath served as one of the fixed points ensuring each tribe received its God-ordained portion without encroachment (Numbers 34:2-12).
2. Access to Trade: With Carmel to the south and the Mediterranean adjacent, Asher possessed strategic maritime and agricultural advantages, consistent with Moses’ blessing that Asher would “dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24). The river mouth likely functioned as a small harbor or watering place for caravans moving along the Via Maris.
3. Covenant Reminder: Every boundary stone or natural marker affirmed the covenant faithfulness of the LORD who promised the land to Abraham’s seed (Genesis 15:18-21). Shihor-Libnath thus testified to divine reliability generation after generation.

Symbolic and Theological Reflections

• Contrast of Dark and White: The juxtaposition of “blackness” with “whiteness” encapsulates the theme of distinction within unity. In Israel’s broader story, light and darkness portray the choice between obedience and rebellion (Isaiah 5:20). At the physical level, the stream’s mingling hues point to God’s artistry; at the moral level, Israel’s land boundaries challenged the tribes to remain pure amid surrounding nations.
• Water as Provision: Streams along Israel’s western flank enabled cultivation, echoing the promise that the land would be “a land of brooks of water” (Deuteronomy 8:7). Asher’s boundary river embodied sufficiency sourced from the covenant LORD.

Connections to Other “Shihor” References

Elsewhere, “Shihor” can denote the Nile (Isaiah 23:3; Jeremiah 2:18). While the contexts differ, both uses highlight large water systems marking territorial edges—Egypt’s river defining the southern border of promise (Genesis 15:18) and Shihor-Libnath defining Asher’s west. The common term reinforces the biblical habit of marking space with memorable hydrological features.

Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship

1. Respect God-Given Boundaries: Just as tribal lines were divinely assigned, believers today honor God-set moral and relational boundaries (Acts 17:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).
2. Celebrate Diversity within Unity: The unique terrains allotted to each tribe illustrate the varied gifts within Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). Shihor-Libnath reminds us that diversity enhances, rather than threatens, covenant harmony.
3. Trust in God’s Provision: The brook at the edge of Asher affirms that where God places His people, He also supplies their need (Philippians 4:19).

Key Takeaways

• Shihor-Libnath is a west-coast stream marking Asher’s inheritance in Joshua 19:26.
• It underscores the precision of God’s land promises and the practical blessings these boundaries secured.
• The name’s contrastive imagery invites reflection on holiness, provision, and the creative glory of the Creator who shapes both geography and history.

לִבְנָֽת׃ לבנת׃ liḇ·nāṯ liḇnāṯ livNatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts