חׇרְמָה (chor.mah)
chor.mah
Hormah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ḥermah denotes a state of being devoted to destruction, often translated as "ban" or "herem." It describes the total consecration of people or property to God through their complete annihilation in war, leaving nothing for plunder. This concept appears nine times in the Old Testament, primarily within the narratives of conquest in Joshua and Numbers, as well as in Judges.
The name Ḥormah itself means "place of devotion" or "destruction," reflecting the fate of the Canaanite city located in the southern region of Judah. The sources identify this location with Zephath, noting that Joshua conquered it and assigned it to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 12:14; 21:13). Earlier, in Numbers 21:3, the name was given after Israel destroyed the city in fulfillment of a vow, establishing the site as a tangible record of divine judgment.
This term carries significant theological weight regarding the holiness of God and the seriousness of covenant obedience. Unlike standard warfare where spoils were divided, ḥermah required absolute surrender to God’s command, removing any human claim to gain. The repeated mention of this place in the tribal allotments serves as a historical marker of Israel’s initial military successes and the rigorous standards applied during the settlement of the land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hormah comes from a Hebrew root meaning to devote or ban. In the Old Testament, it marks a place where total surrender to God’s command meant leaving nothing for personal gain. This word reminds us that some things in life require complete trust, letting go of control and accepting what God allows.
When Israel faced defeat at Hormah, they learned that victory depends on obedience, not just strength. Later, the name stuck as a reminder of both judgment and faithfulness. For believers today, it invites reflection on where we hold back from fully committing our lives to God’s will.
This concept challenges us to consider what we are willing to surrender. It is not about loss but about aligning with divine purpose. In seasons of uncertainty, Hormah points to the peace found in trusting God’s plan over our own desires.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hormah4×
- and/ Hormah2×
- and/ in/ Hormah1×
- [were] in/ Hormah1×
- <the>/ Hormah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָרְמָֽה\׃2×
- וְ/חָרְמָֽה\׃2×
- חָרְמָה֙1×
- חָרְמָֽה\׃\ \פ1×
- וּ/בְ/חָרְמָ֖ה1×
- הַֽ/חָרְמָֽה\׃\ \פ1×
- בְּ/חָרְמָ֛ה1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 21:3
Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.
This verse establishes the name Hormah as a permanent memorial of Israel’s vow and God’s deliverance, showing how obedience leads to divine action.
-
Judges 1:17
Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
Here the name is reused after Judah and Simeon destroy Zephath, linking past covenant faithfulness with present military success through shared obedience.
-
Joshua 12:14
the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
Listing the king of Hormah among defeated rulers highlights its significance as a symbol of complete conquest under God’s authority.