And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:

JOSHUA 18:15KJV
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Joshua 18:15 (KJV)

What does Joshua 18:15 mean?

Joshua 18:15 identifies part of the southern boundary of the land assigned to Benjamin. It describes the boundary by reference to known places, beginning at the end of Kirjathjearim and reaching the water source called Nephtoah.

The verse reads like a route in a land record. Its place names and directions help locate the edge of Benjamin’s assigned territory rather than describe a journey taken by the people.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 18:15

  • “quarter” — פֵּאָה (peʾah): This word can mean a side or edge. Here, “south quarter” refers to a side of the territory, not one-fourth of its area.
  • “well” — מַעְיָן (maʿyan): This word means a spring or source of water. The “well of waters of Nephtoah” is a water source used as a boundary marker.

Why Joshua 18:15 matters

  • The boundary is described through landmarks, not measurements. Kirjathjearim and Nephtoah give readers places by which to trace the line.
  • The verse is part of a larger description of Benjamin’s territory. The boundary continues in verse 16, so verse 15 gives one section of the route rather than the whole outline.
  • “Went out” describes the course of the boundary line. In this setting, the phrase points to where the border extends, not to people going out from a place.

Where else these words appear

“Nephtoah” Hebrew H5318 · used in 2 verses

  • Joshua 15:9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:

“Kirjathjearim” Hebrew H7157 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • 1 Samuel 6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
  • 1 Chronicles 13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

“well” Hebrew H4599 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

“quarter” Hebrew H6285 · used in 59 verses

  • Exodus 25:26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
  • Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
  • Ezekiel 48:1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.