חֹרִי (cho.ri)
cho.ri
Hori
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Chori appears in only four verses, primarily within Genesis and Numbers. It identifies two distinct individuals: an Edomite ancestor and a member of the tribe of Simeon. In Genesis 36:22, he is listed as the son of Lotan and grandson of Seir, placing him among the early inhabitants of the land later associated with Edom. This lineage connects him to the Horites, the pre-Edomite people who lived in the region before the descendants of Esau settled there.
A second figure bearing this name appears in Numbers 13:5 as the father of Shaphat, one of the spies sent by Moses to explore Canaan. This Chori is identified as a Simeonite, linking him to Jacob’s son rather than the Edomite line. The sources suggest the name likely means “cave dweller,” which aligns with the historical description of the Horites as mountain dwellers in the rugged terrain of Seir.
Though brief, these references highlight the complex ethnic landscape of the ancient Near East. The repetition of the name across different tribal lines suggests it was a known identifier for those associated with the cave-dwelling communities of the south. Its presence in both genealogies and the spy narrative underscores the intertwined histories of Israel’s neighbors and its own tribes during the patriarchal and wilderness periods.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Chori appears in Scripture as a marker of identity within complex family lines. In Genesis, it identifies an ancestor from the land of Seir, linking him to the Horites who lived there before the descendants of Esau. This connection reminds us that God’s plan unfolds across many peoples and regions, weaving together different histories into one narrative.
Later, in Numbers, Chori is listed as the father of Shaphat, one of the spies sent to explore Canaan. This shift from an Edomite lineage to a Simeonite tribe shows how names and families moved through Israel’s story. It invites us to see our own place in God’s larger work, trusting that He guides each generation with purpose.
Though brief, these references highlight the richness of biblical history. They encourage us to appreciate the depth of Scripture and the care with which God records even small details of human life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hori3×
- the/ Horite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֹרִ֣י2×
- חוֹרִֽי\׃1×
- הַ/חֹרִ֛י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 36:22
The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
This verse identifies Chori as a son of Lotan, anchoring him in the early genealogy of Seir and connecting him to the Horite people.
-
Numbers 13:5
Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
Here Chori is named as the father of Shaphat among the spies from Simeon, showing a distinct lineage separate from the Edomite line.
-
I Chronicles 1:39
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
This parallel account in Chronicles reaffirms Chori’s place in Lotan’s family, preserving the memory of this early ancestor for later generations.