חָצוֹר (cha.tsor)

cha.tsor

Hazor

H2674 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 17 verses

N:N--L

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 17 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: N:N--L

Word Overview

The name Hazor, meaning "enclosure" or "castle," identifies several distinct locations across biblical history. Its most prominent appearance is as a major royal city in northern Canaan, which was allotted to the tribe of Naphtali. This fortified center played a significant role during the conquest period and later served as a key administrative hub.

The sources distinguish this northern Hazor from other places with the same name. A different Hazor existed in the extreme south within Judah’s territory, while another town north of Jerusalem was inhabited by Benjamites returning from exile. The variation in location highlights how common this descriptive place-name was among ancient settlements.

Translators consistently render the Hebrew as "Hazor" to preserve its identity as a specific historical site rather than a generic term for a fortress. The biblical narrative treats these locations as real political centers, noting their strategic importance in military campaigns and tribal boundaries. This proper noun anchors the text in the tangible geography of ancient Israel.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The name Hazor appears in Scripture as more than just a dot on an ancient map. It represents real places where people lived, fought, and made choices about their future. From the northern city that resisted Israel’s early conquest to the southern towns listed among tribal inheritances, these locations ground the biblical story in tangible history. God’s promises were not abstract ideas but realities played out in specific communities.

Reading about Hazor reminds us that faithfulness matters in everyday life and leadership. Kings rose and fell in these cities. Some resisted change; others faced judgment or restoration. For believers today, this invites reflection on where we place our trust. We serve a God who knows every corner of the earth and cares about how we live in our own time and place.

Whether you are studying biblical geography or simply seeking to understand the text better, Hazor offers a window into God’s ongoing work among His people. It encourages us to see Scripture not as distant myth but as living history that speaks to our present circumstances.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.

Hazor14×
and/ Hazor2×
in/ Hazor1×
[is] Hazor1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

חָצ֖וֹר3×
חָצ֜וֹר2×
חָצ֔וֹר2×
חָצֽוֹר\׃1×
חָצֹ֥ר1×
חָצ֥וֹר\׀1×
חָצ֥וֹר1×
חָצ֤וֹר1×
חָצ֣וֹר1×
חָצ֗וֹר1×
חָצ֑וֹר1×
וְ/חָצֽוֹר\׃1×

Key Verses

Joshua 11:10
Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor used to be the head of all those kingdoms.

This verse highlights Hazor's political significance as the leading city of northern Canaanite kingdoms before its defeat.
Judges 4:2
Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

Here Hazor is the seat of Jabin’s oppressive rule, showing how the city remained a center of power during the period of the judges.
I Kings 9:15
This is the reason of the forced labor which King Solomon conscripted: to build Yahweh’s house, his own house, Millo, Jerusalem’s wall, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

Solomon’s rebuilding of Hazor demonstrates its continued strategic value as a fortified administrative hub in united Israel.
Jeremiah 49:28
Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck, Yahweh says: “Arise, go up to Kedar, and destroy the children of the east.

This passage identifies a different Hazor associated with Kedar, illustrating how the name applied to various groups beyond Israel itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Hazor mean?

The name Hazor likely means 'enclosure' or 'castle,' reflecting its role as a fortified settlement. This meaning fits several locations across biblical history that shared the same name.

Is there only one city called Hazor in the Bible?

No, there are at least three distinct places named Hazor. One was a major northern Canaanite kingdom, another was a town in Judah’s territory, and a third lay north of Jerusalem.

Why is Hazor important in the book of Joshua?

Hazor plays a central role in Joshua 11 as the leading city of a northern coalition against Israel. Its capture and burning mark a key moment in the conquest narrative.

Does Hazor appear outside the Old Testament historical books?

Yes, Hazor appears in later prophetic texts like Jeremiah 49, where it refers to a different group associated with Kedar. It also shows up in lists of rebuilt communities after exile.

Every Occurrence (17 verses across 7 books)

Joshua 8 verses

Joshua 11:1

When Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,

Joshua 11:10

Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor used to be the head of…

Joshua 11:11

They struck all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was no one left who…

Joshua 11:13

But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that.

Joshua 12:19

the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

Joshua 15:23

Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Joshua 15:25

Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (also called Hazor),

Joshua 19:36

Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

Judges 2 verses

I Samuel 1 verse

I Kings 1 verse

II Kings 1 verse

Nehemiah 1 verse

Jeremiah 3 verses