הֵימָם (he.mam)
he.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 Hemam appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in Genesis 36:22 as part of the genealogy of Esau’s descendants. It identifies a specific individual within the lineage of Seir the Horite, marking him as the son of Lotan and brother of Hori. This brief mention serves to trace the family lines that inhabited the land before the Israelites settled there.
Linguistically, the name is understood to mean "exterminating" or one who destroys. The text notes that this spelling is a variant of another form found in 1 Chronicles 1:39, showing how names could shift slightly across different biblical books while referring to the same person. Such variations are common in ancient genealogies, reflecting oral traditions or scribal preferences.
While the meaning of the name might suggest violence, its presence in Scripture is purely historical. It does not carry a theological message but rather preserves the identity of a patriarchal figure. This single verse ensures that Hemam remains part of the recorded history of Edom and its neighbors.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names in Scripture often feel like distant footnotes, yet they anchor our faith in real history. Hemam appears briefly in Genesis 36:22 as part of Esau’s lineage. This simple record shows that God cares about the details of human families, even those outside Israel.
We do not need to search for hidden moral lessons in every name. Instead, we can trust that the Bible preserves these records faithfully. This reliability extends to the core truths of salvation and grace that shape our daily walk with Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Hemam1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הֵימָ֑ם1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:22
The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
This verse identifies Hemam as a son of Lotan, preserving his place in the genealogy of Esau.