What Does Joshua 19:15 Mean in the King James?

And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Shimron carries the Hebrew root for guarding, so a place-name in this list holds an image of keeping inside the map.

THE MEANING

Belonging takes a tangible shape in named places: Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem stand among twelve cities and their villages. Bethlehem, ⁨בֵּית לֶחֶם⁩ (Beit Lechem, “house of bread”), and Shimron, ⁨שִׁמְרוֹן⁩ (Shimron, linked to guarding), carry meanings within their names.

THE ROOT

שִׁמְרוֹן

Shimron

GROWS FROM

שמר

sh-m-r

To keep, guard, or watch.

Shimron echoes ⁨שמר⁩ (shamar), “to keep or guard.” The English list sounds like a set of labels, but this name carries the image of a watchful place within the landscape.

ALSO GROWS

shamar: To keep, guard, or watch.

שָׁמַר

This verb shares Shimron’s root and makes its guarding sense audible.

shomer: A keeper or watcher.

שֹׁמֵר

This branch names one who keeps watch, giving the place-name a living counterpart.

THE PATTERN

A name can carry the nature of a person or place within its sound.

And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Genesis 28:19 · KJVThe place-name Bethel means “house of God,” carrying meaning inside the name.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Genesis 17:5 · KJVThe changed name Abraham marks a nature and calling carried in a name.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23 · KJVThe verse gives Emmanuel’s meaning directly: “God with us.”

THE THREAD

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Psalm 121:7 · KJV

Shimron echoes ⁨שָׁמַר⁩ (shamar), “to keep or guard,” the root behind “preserve” here. A place-name in Joshua opens into the living image of being kept.

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