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חָמוּלִי

𐤇𐤌𐤅𐤋𐤉

Chamuli

H2539 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חמל to spare, to show compassion, to have mercy

Definition

Denotes a member or members of the clan descended from Hâmûl (חָמוּל), specifically one belonging to the family group or wider kin group within Israelite genealogical lists. It is used collectively to refer to the 'house,' 'family,' or 'descendants' of Hâmûl, a son of Perez and grandson of Judah. The term is a patronymic adjective, forming a collective or gentilic identifier linking individuals to an ancestor.

Semantic Range

descendant of Hâmûl, member of the Hamulite clan, those of the house or family line of Hâmûl, Hamulites (collective gentilic)

Root / Etymology

Formed from the proper noun חָמוּל (Hâmûl) with the gentilic suffix -ִי, which marks descent or affiliation. The root of חָמוּל is חמל (ḥ-m-l), 'to spare, have compassion'; however, the formation of the proper name probably reflects conventional theophoric or familial naming rather than being transparently motivated by the verbal root in context. The word חָמוּלִי reflects standard patronymic formation in biblical Hebrew, with the -(i)y suffix indicating lineage or membership in a house or clan.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָמוּלִי occurs in genealogies summarizing tribal subdivisions of Israel during the periods of the wilderness journey and the early monarchy (Num 26:21; 1 Chr 4:23). The term identifies Israelite descent at a sub-tribal level, i.e., one of the clans of the tribe of Judah, descending from Hâmûl. English translations often use 'Hamulites,' mirroring the collective gentilic function. Distinction should be noted between genealogical 'house of' terms (e.g., חָמוּלִי) and explicitly territorial or occupational identifiers. The term does not denote a geographic district but a familial lineage and group identity within Judah. There was no association with later Judean or 'Jewish' identities; the meaning is restricted to genealogical records from early Israelite periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patronymically from חָמוּל; a Chamulite (collectively) or descendants of Chamul; Hamulites.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חמל (ḥ-m-l) — to spare, to show compassion, to have mercy

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2538 חָמוּל to Compassioned-one
H2550 חָמַל he spared
H2551 חֶמְלָה in compassionate sparing of
H4263 מַחְמָל cherished-thing of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2539-01 הֶ/חָמוּלִֽי hechamuli HTd/Ngmsa the Hamulites the Hamulite clansman 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2539-01 Numbers 26:21 הֶ/חָמוּלִֽי hechamuli HTd/Ngmsa the Hamulites the Hamulite clansman
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