הוֹמָ֑ם (ho.mam)
ho.mam
Hemam
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ho-mam identifies a specific individual listed in the genealogies of Genesis and Chronicles. He is recorded as the son of Lotan and a brother of Hori, placing him within the lineage of Seir the Horite. This connection situates him among the early inhabitants of the land before the rise of the Israelite nation.
Lexical sources note that the name appears in two slightly different forms: Ho-mam in 1 Chronicles 1:39 and Hemam in Genesis 36:22. While some traditions suggest a meaning related to "confusion," the primary function of this word in Scripture is strictly onomastic. It serves as a proper noun marking a specific ancestor in the historical records of Edom.
Its occurrence is rare, appearing in only one verse in the Chronicles account where it helps complete the family tree of the Horites. The variation in spelling between the two biblical books reflects common transliteration differences in ancient Hebrew manuscripts rather than a change in meaning or identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you read through the genealogies in Scripture, names like Ho-mam might seem like mere footnotes in a long list of ancestors. Yet these records ground our faith in real history and real people. They remind us that God’s plan unfolds through generations, connecting families across time and geography.
This name appears in the lineage of Lotan, linking to the Horites who lived in the land before Israel settled there. It shows that God’s story includes many peoples and places, not just one group. For you today, this can be a comfort: your own life is part of a larger, unfolding narrative that God knows and directs.
Even when names are rare or hard to pronounce, they matter. They testify to the faithfulness of God in preserving history for us. You don’t need to know every detail to trust that He is working out His purposes through all of humanity, including those listed in these ancient records.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Homam1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הוֹמָ֑ם1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 1:39
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
This verse lists Ho-mam as a son of Lotan and brother of Hori, establishing his place in the Horite family tree.