🔼The name Sitnah: Summary
- Meaning
- Enmity, Opposition
- Etymology
- From the noun שטן (satan), adversary.
🔼The name Sitnah in the Bible
Sitnah is the second in a series of three wells dug by the men of Isaac (Genesis 26:21). The first two wells, Esek and Sitnah in the valley of Gerar, were quarreled over and abandoned. The third well is named Rehoboth.
🔼Etymology of the name Sitnah
The word שטנה (sitnah) refers to a formal motion to oppose some party and their actions. It's the feminine form of שטן, satan, which means adversary. Both names relate to the verb שטן (satan), meaning to resist or be an adversary:
שטן
The familiar noun שטן (satan) means adversary and in the Bible this word mostly does not denote some archetypal Evil One. Instead our noun refers to anyone or anything (including the Angel of the Lord) that aims to prevent something or someone else from its or his proper or intended course, irrespective of whether that course is good or bad, or whether the opposition is good or bad.
The derived verb שטן (satan) means to be an adversary; to obstruct or lay in the way. Noun שטנה (sitna) denotes a kind of written or formal notice that aims to stop a certain proceeding; something like a modern Cease And Desist notice.
It's unclear where our noun comes from, but candidates are: the verb שוט (sut), to swerve or fall away, or the verb שטה (sata), to turn aside. It may even have something to do with the verb שתן (shatan), to urinate.
🔼Sitnah meaning
For a meaning of the name Sitnah, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Enmity. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Accusation and adds Hatred.