What does מַעְיָן (maʿĕyān) mean in the Bible?
מַעְיָן (maʿĕyān): A natural water source that metaphorically represents life-giving abundance, satisfaction, and divine provision in Hebrew thought
Hebrew · H4599
מַעְיָן
A fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
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מַעְיָןH4599
Pronunciationmaʿĕyān
What does מַעְיָן (maʿĕyān) mean in the Bible?
מַעְיָן (maʿĕyān): A natural water source that metaphorically represents life-giving abundance, satisfaction, and divine provision in Hebrew thought
Full entry for מַעְיָן (H4599) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4599?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include spring (5), springs (2), the spring (2), The springs (2), a fountain (1).
Where does מַעְיָן (maʿĕyān) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 7:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (5), Proverbs (3), 2 Kings (2), Genesis (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itspring5×1 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 3:19, 2 Kings 3:25, Proverbs 25:26
springs2×Psalms 104:10, Proverbs 8:24
the spring2×Joshua 15:9, Joshua 18:15
The springs2×Genesis 8:2, 2 Chronicles 32:4
a fountain1×Song Of Solomon 4:12
a place of springs1×Psalms 84:6
a spring1×Leviticus 11:36
and a spring1×Joel 3:18
and fountains1×Isaiah 41:18
and his spring1×Hosea 13:15
from the springs1×Isaiah 12:3
into a fountain1×Psalms 114:8
my springs [of joy]1×Psalms 87:7
the fountain1×Psalms 74:15
the fountains1×Genesis 7:11
Why should your springs1×Proverbs 5:16
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 7:11מַעְיְנֹת֙tothe fountainsNoun - masculine plural constructGenesis 8:2מַעְיְנֹ֣תtoThe springsNoun - masculine plural constructLeviticus 11:36מַעְיָ֥ןtoa springNoun - masculine singularJoshua 15:9מַעְיַן֙tothe springNoun - masculine singular constructJoshua 18:15מַעְיַ֖ןtothe springNoun - masculine singular construct1 Kings 18:5מַעְיְנֵ֣יtospringNoun - masculine plural construct2 Kings 3:19מַעְיְנֵי־tospringNoun - masculine plural construct2 Kings 3:25מַעְיַן־tospringNoun - masculine singular construct2 Chronicles 32:4הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹתtothe springsArticle | Noun - masculine pluralPsalms 74:15מַעְיָ֣ןtothe fountainNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 7:11
Aligned rows23
Books represented12
Genesis2Leviticus1Joshua21 Kings12 Kings22 Chronicles1Psalms5Proverbs3Song Of Solomon2Isaiah2Hosea1Joel1
Source forms
מַעְיָ֣ן3xma‘·yānPsalms 74:15, Psalms 84:6, Proverbs 25:26
מַעְיָ֥ן2xma‘·yānLeviticus 11:36, Song Of Solomon 4:12
הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹת1xham·ma‘·yā·nō·wṯ2 Chronicles 32:4
וּמַעְיָ֗ן1xū·ma‘·yānJoel 3:18
לְמַעְיְנוֹ־1xlə·ma‘·yə·nōw-Psalms 114:8
מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖י1xmim·ma·‘ay·nêIsaiah 12:3
מַעְיַן֙1xma‘·yanJoshua 15:9
מַעְיַ֖ן1xma‘·yanJoshua 18:15
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular5xLeviticus 11:36, Psalms 74:15, Psalms 84:6, Proverbs 25:26
Noun - masculine plural construct4xGenesis 7:11, Genesis 8:2, 1 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 3:19
Noun - masculine singular construct4xJoshua 15:9, Joshua 18:15, 2 Kings 3:25, Song Of Solomon 4:15
Noun - masculine plural3xPsalms 104:10, Proverbs 8:24, Isaiah 41:18
Article | Noun - masculine plural1x2 Chronicles 32:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xJoel 3:18
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular1xPsalms 87:7
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular1xProverbs 5:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. A natural water source that metaphorically represents life-giving abundance, satisfaction, and divine provision in Hebrew thought
Source Gloss
a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
A natural water source that metaphorically represents life-giving abundance, satisfaction, and divine provision in Hebrew thought
a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction) BDB: spring Usage: fountain, spring, well.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Literal water sources, springs of the deep bursting forth during flood
Literal springs and water sources, physically drying up as judgment
Figurative source of vitality and righteousness, corrupted or troubled
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.