Ἐμμόρ (G1697) — Greek Lexicon

Ἐμμόρ

Emmór

G1697 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Emmor; a personal name referring to a Canaanite figure, specifically the father of Shechem. The term serves as a proper noun without additional lexical senses beyond denoting this individual in biblical narrative.

Semantic Range

Emmor (proper name), Hamor (proper name); Canaanite leader, father of Shechem

Root / Etymology

Greek rendering of the Hebrew name חֲמוֹר (Ḥamôr), meaning 'donkey'. Entered Greek from the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible, where personal names were often Hellenized in form.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἐμμόρ is exclusively a proper name found in both the Septuagint (e.g., Genesis 33:19; 34:2, 6) and the New Testament (Acts 7:16, as a patriarchal figure associated with Shechem). In its original Hebrew context, חֲמוֹר (Ḥamôr) means 'donkey,' a common animal name used as a personal name in the ancient Near East. The Greek form Ἐμμόρ appears only as a transliteration of the Hebrew, never as a common noun in Greek literature. While English translations may use 'Hamor,' the Septuagint's Greek rendering reflects the phonetics of the original rather than its lexical meaning. The figure 'Emmor' is designated as a Canaanite, specifically as a local leader (or 'prince') of Shechem, and father-in-law of the biblical patriarch Jacob's daughter Dinah in Genesis. His identity is contextual and genealogical, not theological. Later interpretations sometimes obscure the ancient Near Eastern practice of using animal names for persons.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (חֲמוֹר); Emmor (i.e. Chamor), a Canaanite:--Emmor.

Root Family

Ἐμμόρ (Emmor) — proper name, personal name, donkey (etymological origin)

Root Ἐμμόρ proper name, personal name, donkey (origin of Hebrew name)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1697-01`	Ἑμμὼρ	emmor	`N GEN M SG`	Emmor	of Emmor	Emmor	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1697-01`	Acts 7:16	Ἑμμὼρ	emmor	`N GEN M SG`	Emmor	of Emmor	Emmor

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