חַכְמוֹנִי (chakh.mo.ni)
chakh.mo.ni
Hachmonite
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The Hebrew term chakhmoni identifies a person belonging to the family of Hachmon, or simply "the Wise." It appears only twice in the Bible, serving as a patronymic for two distinct figures in David’s court. In 2 Samuel 23:8, it describes the father of Eleazar, one of David’s legendary warriors who stood firm against the Philistines. The same root also identifies Jehiel, the tutor appointed to care for King Solomon (1 Chronicles 27:32).
Etymologically, the word derives from chacham, meaning "wise." This suggests the family was known for wisdom or perhaps served in a role requiring counsel and instruction. The dual usage highlights how this lineage contributed to Israel both through martial strength and intellectual guidance, bridging the gap between battlefield valor and royal education.
Translators typically render chakhmoni as "Hachmonite" or "Tahchemonite," preserving the proper name while acknowledging its descriptive root. The scarcity of the term underscores the specific historical context of David’s reign, where individual families played pivotal roles in sustaining the kingdom’s stability and legacy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hachmonite points to a lineage marked by wisdom, derived from the Hebrew root for 'wise.' Though it appears only twice in Scripture, this title connects two vital roles in David’s kingdom: military valor and royal instruction. Eleazar, the warrior, and Jehiel, the tutor, both carried this name, showing that strength and counsel are complementary gifts in God’s service.
For believers today, this word reminds us that faithfulness takes many forms. Whether we are called to stand firm in battle or to guide others with understanding, our contributions matter. The Bible honors those who serve in different capacities, uniting courage and wisdom under one divine purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a Hacmonite1×
- Hacmoni1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַכְמוֹנִ֗י1×
- חַכְמוֹנִ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 11:11
This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
This verse identifies Eleazar as a Hachmonite, linking the family name to exceptional martial bravery against the Philistines.
-
I Chronicles 27:32
Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
Here, Jehiel is named as the son of Hachmoni, indicating his role in providing wise counsel and instruction to King Solomon.