חַמֹּת דֹּאר
𐤇𐤌𐤕 𐤃𐤀𐤓
Chamot Dor
H2576 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating a specific geographic location known as 'Hammoth Dor,' interpreted as 'the hot springs of Dor.' Refers to a place given to the tribe of Naphtali in the allotment of land described in the Hebrew Bible (Joshua 21:32). The compound construction denotes both a natural feature (hot springs) and its association with another distinct geographic location (Dor). The term functions both as a toponym and a descriptive phrase indicating local geographic characteristics.
Semantic Range
hot springs associated with Dor, town or city noted for hot springs, Levitical city in Naphtali, geographic designation
Root / Etymology
Compound of 'חַמֹּת' (Hammoth), the plural of 'חַמָּה' (chammah), meaning 'hot spring,' and 'דֹּאר' (Dor), a coastal city or region. The root of 'חַמָּה' is חמה (ḥ-m-h), meaning 'to be hot.' The element 'Dor' is an ancient Canaanite place name whose precise etymology is obscure but likely pre-Israelite. Thus, 'חַמֹּת דֹּאר' means 'hot springs of Dor.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
'Hammoth Dor' appears in Joshua 21:32 as a Levitical city in the territory of Naphtali. The name attests both to natural geothermal features and to the region of Dor, situated on the coastal plain south of modern Haifa. The synchronism of these two terms reflects standard biblical Hebrew toponymy in which a geographical descriptor (e.g., 'hot springs') is paired with a place name for precise identification. In later translation traditions and some English Bibles, the name appears as 'Hamath-Dor,' but this can be confusing, as it may suggest a link with 'Hamath' in Syria or upper Galilee, which is a different site. 'Hammoth' here does not refer to the large city of Hamath, but rather to local springs. The specificity of the toponym reflects both geographic reality and traditional Israelite allotment accounts. Archeological identifications remain debated; the site is sometimes identified with Hammat-Tiberias or nearby locations, but this is not certain. The use of the term in the Hebrew Bible is restricted to geographic lists and not further elaborated on in later historical narratives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the plural of חַמָּה and דּוֹר; hot springs of Dor; Chammath-Dor, a place in Palestine; Hamath-Dor.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חמה; דר (ḥ-m-h; d-r) — heat, to be hot; dwelling, region (Dor as place-name)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2576-02 |
דֹּאר֙ | dor | HNp |
dor | generation-cycle | 1 |
H2576-01 |
חַמֹּ֥ת | chamot | HNp |
Hammoth | Hot Springs of Dor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2576-01 |
Joshua 21:32 | חַמֹּ֥ת | chamot | HNp |
Hammoth | Hot Springs of Dor |
H2576-02 |
Joshua 21:32 | דֹּאר֙ | dor | HNp |
dor | generation-cycle |