I. אֵיתָן, אֵתָן adjective perennial, ever-flowing, figurative permanent, as substantive steady flow, permanence; — absolute אֵיתָן 1 Mos 49,24 + 8 t.; אֵתָן Job 33,19 suffix אֵיתָנוֺ 2 Mos 14,27 plural אֵיתָנִים Job 12,19 אֵתָנִים 1 Kong 8,2; Mik 6,2 (in form, an 'elative,' Ew§ 162 b = Arabic comparative and superlative); —
1. ever-flowing (opposed to
אַכְזָב),
נַחַל אֵיתָן Amos 5,24 an
ever-flowing wady,
5 Mos 21,4 (see
Dr); as substantive in
נַהֲרוֺת אֵיתָּן Sl 74,15 rivers of steady flow; as substantive also
2 Mos 14,27 (
J), the sea returned
לְאֵיתָנוֺ to its
steady flow,
יֶרַת הָאֵיתָנִים 1 Kong 8,2 month of
steady flowings = 7th mo., Oct.-;Nov. (post-Biblical Tisri).
2. figurative
permanent, enduring גּוֺי אֵיתָן הוּא Jer 5,15, i.e. a nation whose numbers never dwindle or fail,
imperishable,
׳וְרִיב עֲצָמָיו א Job 33,19 Kt the strife of his bones is
constant,
1 Mos 49,24 his bow abode
׳בְּא as an
enduring, firm, one,
מוֺשָֽׁבְךָ ׳א 4 Mos 24,21 (||
שִׂים בַּסֶּלַע),
נְוֵה אֵיתָן Jer 49,19 =
Jer 50,44 an abode of
permanency (of Edom, and Babylon, suddenly depopulated by foe, figured as lion);
האיתנים מוסדי ארץ Mik 6,2 ye
ever-enduring ones, the foundations of the earth (but read probably with
We הַאֲזִינוּ),
Job 12,19 אֵיתָנִים יְסַלֵּף he subverteth them that are
firmly seated (i.e. men established in hereditary offices or dignities). Very uncertain is
Ord 13,15 דֶּרֶךְ בִּגְדִים אֵיתָן, perhaps
firm, hard, rugged (
Ew De Hi Now according to Str. the text is corrupt).