חָמוּל
𐤇𐤌𐤅𐤋
Chamul
H2538 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Hâmûl is a proper noun designating a personal name, specifically the name of a male descendant in the family of Jacob/Israel. The probable core meaning of the name is 'compassion' or 'one who is pitied,' reflecting the root's sense of having compassion or showing mercy, though as a name it identifies an individual rather than conveying the verbal action directly. The semantic range in the biblical text is limited to the identification of this specific individual.
Semantic Range
personal name (descendant of Judah/Israel); literally: one who is pitied, one shown compassion
Root / Etymology
From the root חמל (ḥml), which means 'to have compassion, spare, show mercy.' The form חָמוּל (Hâmûl) is most likely a passive participle ('one who is pitied' or 'shown mercy') or a nominal formation with a similar sense. As a personal name, it is a rare direct derivation from a verb indicating emotion or action. The name is attested only as a proper noun in the genealogy of the Israelite patriarch Judah.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Hâmûl is found in genealogical lists, notably in Genesis 46:12 and Numbers 26:21, as a son of Perez, grandson of Judah, and thus a member of the Israelite tribal patriarchal genealogy. The use of names meaning 'compassion' among ancient Israelites reflects a wider ancient Near Eastern practice of evocative or wishful naming. The translation 'pitied' or 'one who is shown mercy' is an attempt to reflect the root meaning, but in biblical usage, the term functions solely as a personal name and should not be conflated with theological terms or generalized meanings. Standard English translations render the name as 'Hamul,' following transliteration conventions, and do not attempt to translate its meaning. There is no significant shift in meaning across biblical periods as the term only appears in genealogical contexts. The etymological root also produces the common verb 'to spare, have compassion' (חָמַל), but that verb is not semantically present when the word is used as a name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָמַל; pitied; Chamul, an Israelite; Hamul.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חמל (ḥ-m-l) — to have compassion, to spare, to show mercy
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2539 | חָמוּלִי | the Hamulite clansman |
| H2550 | חָמַל | he spared |
| H2551 | חֶמְלָה | in compassionate sparing of |
| H4263 | מַחְמָל | cherished-thing of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2538-02 |
וְ/חָמֽוּל | vechamul | HC/Np |
and Hamul | and One-shown-mercy | 2 |
H2538-01 |
לְ/חָמ֕וּל | lechamul | HR/Np |
of Hamul | to Compassioned-one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2538-02 |
Genesis 46:12 | וְ/חָמֽוּל | vechamul | HC/Np |
and Hamul | and One-shown-mercy |
H2538-01 |
Numbers 26:21 | לְ/חָמ֕וּל | lechamul | HR/Np |
of Hamul | to Compassioned-one |
H2538-02 |
1 Chronicles 2:5 | וְ/חָמֽוּל | vechamul | HC/Np |
and Hamul | and One-shown-mercy |