H6917 H6917
ancient, of long standing (meaning disputed); possibly 'of attack' or a place name
This adjective appears in Deborah's victory song (Judges 5:21), describing the Kishon as 'the ancient river' in most English versions. However, the Hebrew is notoriously difficult. The Septuagint treats it as a proper name (Kadeshim), while the Targum supports 'ancient.' Some scholars propose it means 'rushing' or 'attacking' based on verbal roots. The multilingual evidence tilts toward 'ancient,' though the poetic context allows for ambiguity—perhaps intentionally evoking both the river's antiquity and its violent flooding.
Senses
1. sense 1 — An adjective of uncertain meaning, traditionally rendered 'ancient' when modifying the Kishon River in Judges 5:21. The word's rarity and textual variants (some Greek manuscripts treat it as a place name) create interpretive challenges. If 'ancient' is correct, it may emphasize the river's timeless role in Israel's sacred geography. Alternatively, if related to verbs of attack or onrush, it might describe the torrent's violent sweep that destroyed Sisera's forces—a dual possibility enriching the poetic ambiguity. 1×
AR["قَديمٍ"]·ben["প্রাচীনের"]·DE["ancient"]·EN["ancient"]·FR["ancien"]·heb["קדומים"]·HI["प्राचीन"]·ID["kuno"]·IT["antico"]·jav["kina"]·KO["오래된"]·PT["antigamente"]·RU["древний"]·ES["antiguo"]·SW["zamani"]·TR["kadim"]·urd["قدیم"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† קְרוּמִים n.[m.]pl. only ק׳ (נַחַל) Ju 5:21, meaning dub.; 𝔊A n.pr. Καδησειμ, 𝔊L Καδημειμ; 𝔊B ἀρχαίων, so 𝔗, AV ancient river (lit. of antiquity), Bachm al.; Be al. of attack (cf. קָדַם 1 a); v. further GFM Bu Now CookEncy. Bib. 2683.