Word Study for H4313 (מֵי הַיַּרְקוֹן)

Mêy hay-Yarqôwn /may hah'-ee-yar-kone'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom מַיִם and יֵרָקוֹן with the art. interposed

Meaningwater of the yellowness; Me-haj-Jarkon, a place in Palestine

KJV usageMe-jarkon.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Mêy hay-Yarqôwn — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew place name Mêy hay-Yarqôwn, identified as H4313, is transliterated as Me-jarkon. Its name means "water of the yellowness" and it designates a location in Palestine. This term is unique, appearing only 1 time in 1 verse within the entire biblical text.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H4313 is in the book of Joshua, where it functions as a geographical landmark. It is mentioned in a list that defines a territorial boundary, specifically "And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho" Joshua 19:46. This context places it as part of a larger description of land demarcation.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear alongside H4313 in its only biblical mention, clarifying its geographical context:

H7542 Raqqôwn: Meaning "thinness," this is another place name in Palestine, listed immediately with Me-jarkon Joshua 19:46.
H1366 gᵉbûwl: This word for border or boundary is central to the passage, defining the territory being described Joshua 19:46.
H3305 Yâphôw: A place in Palestine meaning "beautiful," also known as Joppa. This location serves as a key reference point for the border mentioned in the verse Joshua 19:46.

Theological Significance

While H4313 itself is a geographical point, its context within a border description carries theological weight concerning God's covenant with Israel.

Divine Allotment: The listing of specific places like Me-jarkon is part of the meticulous record of the land being divided, which is the fulfillment of a divine promise. God is the one who sets the "bounds" Exodus 23:31 and enlarges the "borders" Exodus 34:24.
National Identity and Hope: The establishment of a clear border was essential to Israel's identity and security. This concept is linked to hope and restoration, as seen in the promise that the people would return to "their own border" Jeremiah 31:17.
Sovereignty over Territory: The precise naming of locations within these borders underscores God's total authority over the land and its division among His people, where He "maketh peace in thy borders" Psalms 147:14.

Summary

In summary, H4313 is a precise geographical term for a place named Me-jarkon. Though it appears only once, its inclusion in the biblical text is significant. It serves as a detailed marker in the description of a territorial border Joshua 19:46, contributing to the broader narrative of God's sovereign hand in allotting the promised land to His people. The word itself is a testament to the Bible's geographical accuracy and the importance of place in recording the fulfillment of divine covenants.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מֵי
יַּרְקוֹן

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Joshua — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.