### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʻÎyr Nâchâsh**, represented by `{{H5904}}`, translates as **city of a serpent**. It is defined as Ir-Nachash, a place in Palestine, and its anglicized form is Irnahash. This name is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, marking it as a specific and singular reference within the scriptural record.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5904}}` is within a genealogical listing in the book of 1 Chronicles. The verse states, "And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of **Irnahash**" [[1 Chronicles 4:12]]. In this context, **Irnahash** is not a person but a place, and Tehinnah `{{H8468}}` is identified as its "father" `{{H1}}`, likely signifying him as its founder or the progenitor of its inhabitants. The verse situates the location within a lineage connected to the "men of Rechah."
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context in [[1 Chronicles 4:12]] help establish its place in the biblical narrative:
* `{{H8468}}` **Tᵉchinnâh** (Tehinnah, an Israelite): This is the individual named as the "father" of **Irnahash**, directly linking a person to the founding of the location [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
* `{{H1}}` **ʼâb** (father... chief, (fore-) father... principal): Used here to denote Tehinnah's role as the founder or principal ancestor associated with **Irnahash** [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young; causatively, to beget... to show lineage): This verb forms the backbone of the genealogical record, establishing the line of descent that leads to the founding of **Irnahash** [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
* `{{H850}}` **ʼEshtôwn** (restful; Eshton, an Israelite): The progenitor mentioned in the verse who begat Tehinnah, placing **Irnahash** within a larger family tree [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
* `{{H582}}` **ʼĕnôwsh** (a mortal... a man in general): This term is used to collectively identify the people of this lineage as "the men of Rechah" [[1 Chronicles 4:12]], grounding the genealogy in a specific community.
* `{{H7397}}` **Rêkâh** (softness; Rekah, a place in Palestine; Rechah): The place with which these men are associated, linking the family of the founder of **Irnahash** to another named settlement [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5904}}` is rooted entirely in its genealogical function, highlighting key themes of ancestry and settlement.
* **Founding of a Place:** The primary role of **Irnahash** in the text is to serve as a geographical marker founded by a specific person. Tehinnah's status as its "father" `{{H1}}` establishes a direct link between a lineage and the origin of a settlement [[1 Chronicles 4:12]].
* **Genealogical Record:** The name exists to complete a genealogical record. Its inclusion demonstrates the meticulous concern for preserving lines of descent and the history of how different clans and places were established. The action of "begat" `{{H3205}}` is the central mechanism of this record.
* **Communal Identity:** The passage connects the founder of **Irnahash** to a larger group, "the men `{{H582}}` of Rechah `{{H7397}}`" [[1 Chronicles 4:12]]. This shows how individual family lines contributed to the formation of wider communities and settlements in ancient Israel.
### Summary
In summary, **ʻÎyr Nâchâsh** `{{H5904}}` is the name of a place, Irnahash, whose only mention anchors it firmly within a biblical genealogy. While its literal meaning is "city of a serpent," the biblical text does not expand on this, focusing instead on its origin through its "father," Tehinnah. Its importance lies not in any narrative action but in its function as a historical data point, illustrating the value placed on lineage and the founding of communities in the Old Testament record.
TRV