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חֲמַת צוֹבָה

𐤇𐤌𐤕 𐤑𐤅𐤁𐤄

Chamat Tsovah

H2578 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חמת, צבה to enclose, to fortify, fortress (חמת); uncertain (צבה, as proper name)

Definition

Chămath-Tzovah refers to a specific geographic location or polity, commonly rendered as 'Hamath-Zobah' in English translations. It denotes a region or city associated with, or lying between, Hamath and Zobah—two significant northern Aramean/Syrian city-states during the biblical period. The term is typically used to describe a composite territory or alliance, likely representing borderland or buffer zones between these kingdoms.

Semantic Range

name of a region or city combining Hamath and Zobah, territory governed by or lying between Hamath and Zobah, area contested by neighboring polities

Root / Etymology

A compound noun derived from חֲמָת (Hamath) and צוֹבָה (Zobah). חֲמָת is based on the root חמת (ḥ-m-t), meaning 'fortress,' 'citadel,' or 'enclosure,' and is the name of a major Aramean/Syrian city north of Israel. צוֹבָה (Zobah) is a proper name of uncertain etymology, designating another principal Aramean polity of the early monarchic period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Chămath-Tzovah appears only in 2 Chronicles 8:3, in a context describing the military campaigns of Solomon or David northward. The term reflects geographic and political realities of the early monarchic period, during which the Israelite kingdom had interactions, conflicts, and exchanges with various northern city-states. 'Hamath' and 'Zobah' were independent or semi-independent centers in what is modern Syria. The compound term denotes an area at or near the boundary between these two powers, likely reflecting changing borders or shifting alliances during the monarchic era (10th–9th centuries BCE). English translations (e.g., KJV 'Hamath-zobah') sometimes treat the name as a single city, but more likely it refers to a region or zone between two entities. Later traditions occasionally attached greater significance to Hamath and Zobah due to their locations on major trade routes. There is no indication that the population of this location/region was Israelite, though it was relevant in Israelite military narratives. Modern English renderings do not always convey the geo-political nuance of the original term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חֲמָת and צוֹבָא; Chamath of Tsobah; probably the same as חֲמָת; Chamath-Tsobah; Hamath-Zobah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חמה (ḥ-m-h) — to surround, to wall, to enclose, to fortify

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2528 חֱמָא burning fury
H2529 חֶמְאָה thickened milk
H2553 חַמָּן your sun-pillars
H2574 חֲמָת in Hamath-Fortress
H2575 חַמַּת from Chammath

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2578-02 צוֹבָ֔ה tsovah HNp Zobah Zobah 1
H2578-01 חֲמָ֣ת chamat HNp Hamath Fortified-city of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2578-01 2 Chronicles 8:3 חֲמָ֣ת chamat HNp Hamath Fortified-city of
H2578-02 2 Chronicles 8:3 צוֹבָ֔ה tsovah HNp Zobah Zobah
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