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חֲמוֹר

𐤇𐤌𐤅𐤓

Chamor

H2544 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חמר to be red, reddish-brown, donkey (by extension)

Definition

(1) Domestic donkey, the common beast of burden; (2) personal name 'Hamor'—a native Canaanite ruler in Shechem, mentioned in Genesis. As an animal, חֲמוֹר refers specifically to the domesticated donkey (Equus asinus) used for transport and labor. As a proper name, it identifies a Canaanite nobleman, distinct from animal usage.

Semantic Range

domesticated donkey, beast of burden; personal name ('Hamor', a Canaanite leader in Shechem)

Root / Etymology

From the root חמר, meaning 'to be red' or 'to be of a reddish-brown color,' likely referencing the typical coloration of donkeys. As a proper name, חֲמוֹר may derive from this root as well, either as a theophoric or descriptive name, though the motivations for its use as a personal name are not fully clear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲמוֹר is primarily attested as the word for the domesticated donkey, a crucial pack and riding animal in the agrarian society of ancient Israel and Canaan. Its association with burden-bearing occurs frequently in narrative and legal texts, and the animal is distinct from other beasts of burden like the ox or camel. Proper name usage (as in Genesis 34) refers to a high-status Canaanite and father of Shechem; this reflects the broader ANE custom of animal names being applied to persons. Septuagint and some English translations render the personal name as 'Hamor,' but it is not etymologically related to 'Ham' or 'Hamor' in other contexts. The English term 'ass' or 'donkey' narrows the meaning, failing to recognize its use as a personal name in narrative contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as חֲמוֹר; donkey; Chamor, a Canaanite; Hamor.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חמר (ḥ-m-r) — to be red, reddish-brown; donkey

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2543 חֲמוֹר on the male donkeys
H2560 חָמַר he bubbled up
H2561 חֶמֶר fermenting wine
H2562 חֲמַר he fermented
H2563 חֹמֶר in the clay

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2544-01 חֲמ֖וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor 13

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2544-01 Genesis 33:19 חֲמ֖וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:2 חֲמ֛וֹר chamor HNp of Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:4 חֲמ֥וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:6 חֲמ֥וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:8 חֲמ֖וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:13 חֲמ֥וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:18 חֲמ֑וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:18 חֲמֽוֹר chamor-2 HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:20 חֲמ֛וֹר chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
H2544-01 Genesis 34:24 חֲמוֹר֙ chamor HNp Hamor Hamor
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