Zaanan
LocationsGeographical Setting
Zanan is an ancient settlement in the Shephelah region of Judah, identified in the Hebrew Bible as the location of a prophetic oracle.
What is the meaning of Zaanan in the Bible?
Zanan is a town in the Shephelah of Judah mentioned in the Book of Micah (1:11), where the prophet employs a wordplay on the name, linking it to the Hebrew verb yatsa' (to go forth) to describe the departure of its inhabitants.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the linguistic wordplay in Micah 1:11 reveals how the prophet used local geography and etymology to dramatize the impending judgment and displacement of Judah's towns, enhancing the rhetorical impact of the prophecy.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Zaanan in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Zaanan clarify?
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.