חָמוּל (cha.mul)
cha.mul
Hamul
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The proper name ḥāmûl means "spared." It identifies a specific figure in the genealogy of Judah: the younger son of Perez and grandson of Judah himself (Genesis 46:12; 1 Chronicles 4:1-2). The name appears only three times in Scripture, serving as a marker of lineage rather than a carrier of narrative action.
Its meaning likely reflects a birth circumstance where the younger brother was unexpectedly spared or born after a delay. While the text does not elaborate on the event, the etymology points to divine preservation or mercy in the family line. This name anchors Hamul within the tribal structure that would eventually produce King David and, in Christian tradition, Jesus.
Translators consistently render ḥāmûl as "Hamul," preserving the proper noun without attempting to translate the meaning into the English text. The focus remains on his identity as a distinct ancestor, ensuring the continuity of the Judahite line is recorded with precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you look at a family tree, it is easy to see names as just labels on a chart. Yet each name represents a real person who lived, loved, and survived so that the next generation could exist. Hamul was the younger son of Perez and brother to Hezron. His name means 'spared,' suggesting a moment where life was preserved against the odds. In a world where survival was never guaranteed, his existence is a quiet reminder of God's faithfulness to keep families intact.
This small detail in Scripture matters because it shows how carefully God records every branch of His people. Hamul’s line continued through the Hamulites, eventually leading to King David and Jesus Christ. You do not need to know every name in the Bible to feel connected to this story. Knowing that your ancestors were preserved by grace helps you trust that God is still at work in your own life today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Hamul2×
- of/ Hamul1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/חָמ֕וּל1×
- וְ/חָמֽוּל\׃\ \ס1×
- וְ/חָמֽוּל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
This verse establishes Hamul as a distinct son of Perez, confirming his place in the initial migration to Egypt and validating his role as an ancestor rather than a narrative character.
-
Numbers 26:21
The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
Here the name shifts from identifying a person to defining a tribal family unit, showing how Hamul’s legacy expanded into a lasting community within the tribe of Judah.
-
I Chronicles 2:5
The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
This later genealogy reaffirms the continuity of the line centuries later, ensuring that Hamul’s contribution to the royal lineage of David remains unbroken in historical memory.