### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʻÊyn Mishpâṭ**, represented by `{{H5880}}`, literally means **fountain of judgment**. It is a proper name for a location, En-Mishpat, which is found near Palestine. This name appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire biblical record, marking a specific and singular event in the narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5880}}` is in [[Genesis 14:7]], where it marks a turning point in the campaign of the kings from the east. The verse states that they **returned** `{{H7725}}` and **came** `{{H935}}` to Enmishpat, which the text explicitly identifies as **Kadesh** `{{H6946}}`. At this location, they **smote** `{{H5221}}` the Amalekites and the **Amorites** `{{H567}}` who **dwelt** `{{H3427}}` in the region. The context is one of military conquest and judgment enacted at a place whose very name implies it.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only biblical context help clarify the significance of the event at En-mishpat:
* `{{H7725}}` **shûwb** (to turn back): This verb describes the action of the invading kings, who **returned** to this specific place to carry out their attack. It often carries a sense of reversal or response [[Genesis 14:7]].
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike): This word denotes the violent action that occurred at En-mishpat. It is used for smiting or slaughtering, and in this case, it describes the defeat of the Amorites and Amalekites [[Genesis 14:7]].
* `{{H6946}}` **Qâdêsh** (sanctuary): The text directly equates En-mishpat with **Kadesh**, a place that would later become a significant location during Israel's wanderings in the wilderness [[Numbers 20:1]].
* `{{H567}}` **ʼĔmôrîy** (Amorite): This identifies one of the Canaanitish tribes defeated at the "fountain of judgment," a people who are frequently mentioned as inhabitants of the land promised to Israel [[Joshua 24:15]].
### Theological Significance
While mentioned only once, the name `{{H5880}}` carries significant weight due to its meaning and context.
* **A Place of Judgment:** The literal meaning, "fountain of judgment," is perfectly aligned with the event described in [[Genesis 14:7]]. The location serves as the source or setting of a decisive military strike, a physical manifestation of judgment upon its inhabitants.
* **Confluence with Holiness:** Its identification with **Kadesh** `{{H6946}}`, meaning "sanctuary" or holy place, creates a powerful theological statement. Judgment and holiness are brought together, suggesting that the acts of judgment are not random but are connected to a place of significance.
* **Foreshadowing Divine Action:** The smiting of the **Amorites** `{{H567}}` at this site prefigures the larger-scale dispossession of the Canaanite tribes that God would later command, as seen in promises to drive out the Amorites before Israel [[Joshua 3:10]].
### Summary
In summary, **ʻÊyn Mishpâṭ** `{{H5880}}` is more than just an ancient place name. Though it appears in a single verse, its meaning as the "fountain of judgment" provides a theological lens through which to view the events of [[Genesis 14:7]]. Its connection to the pivotal location of **Kadesh** and the smiting of the **Amorites** embeds it within the broader biblical themes of judgment, holiness, and the unfolding of God's purposes in the land.
TRV