בֵּית חוֹרוֹן
𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤇𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤍
Beyt Choron
H1032 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Beth-Horon; a place name referring to two closely situated settlements (Upper Beth-Horon and Lower Beth-Horon), derived from the composite of 'house' (בֵּית) and a personal or topographical name (חוֹרוֹן). The term designates a significant location on the ascent northwest of Jerusalem, frequently mentioned in narratives relating to military campaigns and territorial boundaries. The semantic range encompasses both the specific populated places known as Upper and Lower Beth-Horon and the broader area associated with these sites.
Semantic Range
village, settlement, strategic pass, designated area, house associated with Horon, Upper and Lower settlements
Root / Etymology
Compound of בֵּית (bayit/bêt, 'house') and חוֹרוֹן (Horon). בֵּית is consistently used in Hebrew place names to signify a house, settlement, or shrine, often followed by a personal, topographical, or divine name; חוֹרוֹן's exact origin is debated: it may refer to a person ('Horon'), a Canaanite deity, or a topographical feature (possibly 'hollow' or 'hole'), but the etymology remains uncertain. Thus, בֵּית־חוֹרוֹן can be interpreted as 'house (town/settlement) of Horon.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֵּית־חוֹרוֹן designates two distinct but adjacent settlements: Upper Beth-Horon (בֵּית־חוֹרוֹן עֶלְיוֹן) and Lower Beth-Horon (בֵּית־חוֹרוֹן תַּחְתּוֹן), marking a strategic pass between the Aijalon Valley and the central Benjamin hill country. The sites are important in the biblical narrative, frequently associated with battles and border descriptions (e.g., Joshua 10, 1 Samuel 13, 1 Kings 9). The origin of חוֹרוֹן is debated—some suggest a Canaanite deity is referenced (cf. Ugaritic ḥrn), while others propose a description of geographic hollows, but no consensus exists. In English translations, the rendering 'Beth-horon' is customary, but this transliteration does not convey the original connotations of personal, cultic, or topographical association that may have existed. This term refers to places within the territory allotted to the tribe of Ephraim (the descendants of Joseph) and is later under the control or influence of the northern Israelite kingdom. Post-exilic references continue to use the term for the same locations, but by that time the term primarily preserved its topographical and place-name function.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּיִת and חוֹר; house of hollowness; Beth-Choron, the name of two adjoining places in Palestine; Beth-horon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
בית, חור (Beyt Choron) — house, settlement; (of) Horon, hollow; (possibly) Horon (personal/deity name)
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1032-02 |
חוֹר֖וֹן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron | 14 |
H1032-01 |
בֵּ֥ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron | 11 |
H1032-04 |
בֵית | veyt | HNp |
house-of | house-of | Beyt Choron | 2 |
H1032-03 |
לְ/בֵית | leveyt | HR/Np |
of Beth | to the house of | to Beyt Choron | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
28 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1032-04 |
Joshua 10:10 | בֵית | veyt | HNp |
of Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 10:10 | חוֹרֹ֔ן | choron | HNp |
Horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
Joshua 10:11 | בֵּית | beyt | HNp |
of Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 10:11 | חוֹרֹן֙ | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
Joshua 16:3 | בֵּית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 16:3 | חוֹרֹ֛ן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
Joshua 16:5 | בֵּ֥ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 16:5 | חוֹרֹ֖ן | choron | HNp |
Horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-03 |
Joshua 18:13 | לְ/בֵית | leveyt | HR/Np |
of Beth | to the house of | to Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 18:13 | חֹר֖וֹן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-04 |
Joshua 18:14 | בֵית | veyt | HNp |
house-of | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 18:14 | חֹרוֹן֮ | choron | HNp |
Horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
Joshua 21:22 | בֵּ֥ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
Joshua 21:22 | חוֹרֹ֖ן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
1 Samuel 13:18 | בֵּ֣ית | beyt | HNp |
of Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
1 Samuel 13:18 | חֹר֑וֹן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
1 Kings 9:17 | בֵּ֥ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
1 Kings 9:17 | חֹרֹ֖ן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:53 | בֵּ֥ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
1 Chronicles 6:53 | חוֹר֖וֹן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:24 | בֵּית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
1 Chronicles 7:24 | חוֹר֛וֹן | choron | HNp |
-horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
2 Chronicles 8:5 | בֵּ֤ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
2 Chronicles 8:5 | חוֹרוֹן֙ | choron | HNp |
Horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
2 Chronicles 8:5 | בֵּ֥ית | beyt-2 | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
2 Chronicles 8:5 | חוֹר֖וֹן | choron-2 | HNp |
Horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |
H1032-01 |
2 Chronicles 25:13 | בֵּ֣ית | beyt | HNp |
Beth | house-of | Beyt Choron |
H1032-02 |
2 Chronicles 25:13 | חוֹר֑וֹן | choron | HNp |
horon | Horon | Beyt Choron |