Ethanim
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Ethanim in the Bible?
Ethanim, identified with the civil month of Tishrei, spans September and October in the Gregorian calendar. The term's etymology, derived from a root meaning 'strong' or 'powerful,' likely alludes to the beginning of the rainy season in the Levant rather than the concept of perennial streams.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing Ethanim as the seventh month of the civil year allows readers to accurately place the autumnal festivals, including the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, within the biblical agricultural and religious cycles.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Ethanim. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Ethanim in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Ethanim clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Ethanim." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/ethanim/