חַשְׁמֹנָה
𐤇𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤄
Chashemonah
H2832 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym referring to a location encountered by the Israelites during their wilderness journey, most likely denoting a place characterized by luxuriance or fertility. In biblical narrative, it designates a station encampment during the exodus itinerary, appearing as a proper noun rather than a common noun. The semantic range does not indicate more general uses apart from the specific geographic location.
Semantic Range
proper name of a location, encampment site, station in the wilderness, Hashmonah
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ח-ש-מ (likely חַשְׁמַן, although the evidence for this root as 'fertile' is limited, and the etymology is somewhat uncertain). The form חַשְׁמֹנָה is a feminine substantivized or place-name formation. The root as posited by older lexica (such as Strong's) is not attested elsewhere with the sense of 'fertile,' and this derivation is generally based on the association of helpful land for encampment, but direct evidence for the root meaning is lacking. Etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חַשְׁמֹנָה appears only in Numbers 33:29-30 as one of the encampments listed in the Israelite wilderness itinerary. Its precise location is unknown and not identifiable in later biblical or extra-biblical sources. There is no evidence in the biblical record for continuous habitation or major events at this site; it primarily serves as a geographic marker in the narrative of the exodus wanderings. The suggested meaning of 'fertile' is based on analogy with similar-sounding Semitic roots, but this is speculative and not confirmed by usage. English translations often simply transliterate 'Hashmonah.' Not to be confused with the later Hasmonaean/Judean family name 'Hashmonai' (חַשְׁמוֹנַאי), which derives from a different but similarly spelled term and relates to later Hellenistic/Roman period Judean leaders. No association with ethnic identity, religious observance, or later Judean history is present in the biblical usage of this toponym.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of חַשְׁמַן; fertile; Chasmonah, a place in the Desert; Hashmonah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ח־ש־מ (uncertain, possibly חַשְׁמַן) (Chashemonah) — (uncertain), possible meanings: to be rich, luxuriant, fertile
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2832-01 |
בְּ/חַשְׁמֹנָֽה | bechashemonah | HR/Np |
at Hashmonah | in Hashmonah | in Chashemonah | 1 |
H2832-02 |
מֵֽ/חַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה | mechashemonah | HR/Np |
from Hashmonah | from Hashmonah | from Chashemonah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2832-01 |
Numbers 33:29 | בְּ/חַשְׁמֹנָֽה | bechashemonah | HR/Np |
at Hashmonah | in Hashmonah | in Chashemonah |
H2832-02 |
Numbers 33:30 | מֵֽ/חַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה | mechashemonah | HR/Np |
from Hashmonah | from Hashmonah | from Chashemonah |