### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻAyin**, represented by `{{H5871}}`, is the name for two places in Palestine. Its base definition is "fountain." It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, where it is used simply as the proper name **Ain**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5871}}` is used exclusively as a geographical marker to identify a specific city or a point on a boundary line. It is mentioned as a landmark on Israel's eastern **border** `{{H1366}}` which would **go down** `{{H3381}}` toward the **sea** `{{H3220}}` of Chinnereth [[Numbers 34:11]]. In the book of Joshua, **Ain** is listed as a city given to the tribes, sometimes with its **villages** `{{H2691}}` ([[Joshua 19:7]], [[Joshua 15:32]]) or its **suburbs** `{{H4054}}` [[Joshua 21:16]]. It is also included in a genealogical record of cities alongside **Etam** `{{H5862}}` [[1 Chronicles 4:32]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context in which **Ain** is mentioned:
* `{{H1366}}` **gᵉbûwl** (border): This word, meaning a boundary or territory, is used to define the **coast** `{{H1366}}` and **border** `{{H1366}}` where **Ain** is located [[Numbers 34:11]]. It often signifies the divinely appointed limits of Israel's land.
* `{{H2691}}` **châtsêr** (village): Defined as a yard or hamlet, this term describes the settlements associated with the city of **Ain** [[Joshua 19:7]]. It points to an enclosed, inhabited area, whether a secular **village** or the sacred **courts** `{{H2691}}` of the Lord's house [[Psalms 100:4]].
* `{{H4054}}` **migrâsh** (suburbs): Meaning an open area or suburb, this word is used to describe the land surrounding **Ain** [[Joshua 21:16]]. It is frequently used in the context of land given to the Levites for their cities and pasture grounds [[Numbers 35:2]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5871}}` is primarily geographical and historical, marking key locations in Israel's story.
* **Defining the Promised Land:** **Ain** serves as a landmark in the divinely decreed **border** `{{H1366}}` of the land promised to Israel, grounding the covenant in a physical territory [[Numbers 34:11]].
* **Establishing Tribal Inheritance:** Its inclusion in the city lists within Joshua demonstrates its role in the formal allotment of land among the tribes, signifying a settled and organized community ([[Joshua 21:16]], [[Joshua 19:7]]).
* **A Place Within a Community:** By consistently being mentioned with its **villages** `{{H2691}}` or **suburbs** `{{H4054}}`, **Ain** is shown not as an isolated point but as a center of a community network, integral to the structure of the nation.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5871}}` is a proper name, **Ain**, used to identify specific locations within ancient Palestine. While its root means "fountain," its biblical usage is strictly as a geographical identifier for a city or boundary point. Its importance lies in its role within the scriptural accounts of Israel's borders and the tribal division of the Promised Land, anchoring the nation's history and identity to the land God gave them.
TRV