"Ænon" is the Greek rendition of the Semitic term for "spring" or "natural fountain", like the Hebrew and Arabic "ayn". In the water-poor Middle East, places owning a spring tend to be named after that water source, so that toponyms consisting of or containing the construct state word "ein-" are common. The particular site mentioned in the Gospel of John is therefore closer identified as "Aenon near Salim". is the only place in the Bible where the name Aenon is found.