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Pithom

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

Pithom was an Egyptian store city associated with the forced labor of the Israelites in Exodus.

At a Glance

A biblical place-name for an Egyptian store city linked to Israel’s slavery in Egypt.

Key Points

Description

Pithom is an Egyptian store city mentioned in Exodus 1:11 alongside Rameses. In the biblical narrative, it stands within the larger setting of Israel’s oppression in Egypt, where Pharaoh forced the Israelites into harsh labor. The exact archaeological identification of Pithom is debated, so a careful dictionary entry should avoid overclaiming beyond the biblical witness. Its importance lies mainly in the historical and redemptive setting of the exodus: Pithom illustrates the burden from which the LORD delivered His people.

Biblical Context

Exodus introduces Pithom as part of the oppression imposed on Israel by Pharaoh. The city functions as a concrete marker of slavery, forced labor, and the increasing severity of Egypt’s treatment of the Hebrews before the exodus.

Historical Context

The historical location of Pithom has been debated, and proposals have varied across Egyptological and biblical studies. Because the biblical text does not supply a precise modern identification, cautious wording is appropriate. The entry should emphasize its role in the Exodus narrative rather than claim certainty about archaeology.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Jewish reading of the Exodus story, Pithom belongs to the remembered geography of bondage and deliverance. It serves as one of the narrative locations that highlight the humiliation of Israel before God’s saving acts.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew form is פִּתֹם (Pithom). The name is usually treated as an Egyptian place-name or a form reflecting Egyptian context; its exact etymology is uncertain.

Theological Significance

Pithom is significant because it marks the reality of Israel’s suffering before the exodus and thus sets the stage for God’s redemptive deliverance. It reminds readers that the LORD hears the cries of His people and acts in history to save.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Pithom is not a doctrine in itself, but it anchors doctrine in historical fact. Biblical faith is not detached from geography; redemption occurred in real places under real rulers.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate the certainty of Pithom’s modern identification. The theological weight of the term comes from its place in the Exodus narrative, not from speculative archaeology or allegory.

Major Views

There is general agreement that Pithom was an Egyptian store city associated with Israelite forced labor, though scholars differ on its exact location and identification.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Pithom should be treated as a historical biblical location, not as a symbolic code-word requiring hidden meanings. Its significance is contextual and redemptive-historical, not doctrinally independent.

Practical Significance

Pithom reminds believers that God sees oppression, remembers His promises, and delivers His people in real history. It also encourages careful reading of Scripture’s historical details.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Pithom

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