חֹרֹנַיִם (cho.ro.na.yim)
cho.ro.na.yim
Horonaim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun ḥōrônayim refers to a specific town in Moab, with a name that translates to "two caves" or "two hollows." This etymology likely describes the local geography, suggesting a settlement built into or near natural rock formations. The dual form of the word points to two distinct features, perhaps ravines or caverns, that defined the landscape.
Scripture mentions this location five times, primarily in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah, as well as briefly in II Samuel. In these contexts, Horonaim serves as a marker of Moab’s borders and its vulnerability to judgment. The references highlight how even fortified places were subject to the shifting tides of ancient Near Eastern politics and divine prophecy.
Understanding this word offers a glimpse into the physical reality behind the biblical text. It reminds readers that the prophecies against Moab were not abstract but targeted real communities with tangible landmarks. The name itself, rooted in the landscape, anchors these historical events in a specific place.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Horonaim means "two hollows," a name that likely described the rocky caves or ravines where people once found shelter in Moab. In the Bible, this place stands as a symbol of vulnerability. Even when communities felt secure behind natural barriers or fortified walls, their safety was never absolute. The prophets used such real locations to show that human strength is temporary and that God’s word reaches every corner of the earth.
For your faith, this reminds us that no circumstance is too hidden for God to see. Whether you face open conflict or quiet anxiety, He is present in the "hollows" of your life. The biblical writers did not describe these places as abstract ideas but as real towns with real people. This grounds our trust in a God who knows the details of history and cares about the specific struggles of individuals.
When we read of Horonaim, we are invited to look beyond the surface. It is not just a map reference; it is a reminder that judgment and hope both touch real lives. We can find comfort in knowing that the same God who spoke through these ancient prophecies still walks with us today, offering stability when our own foundations feel shaky.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Horonaim4×
- from/ Horonaim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חוֹרֹנַ֔יִם2×
- מֵ/חֹֽרוֹנָ֑יִם1×
- חֹרֹנַיִם1×
- חֹ֣רֹנַ֔יִם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
This verse places Horonaim on the route of fleeing nobles, showing how the location became a focal point for panic and destruction during Moab's crisis.
-
Jeremiah 48:3
The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!
The cry from Horonaim is linked directly to desolation, emphasizing that even places named for shelter could become sites of great loss.
-
Jeremiah 48:34
From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for the waters of Nimrim will also become desolate.
Here Horonaim marks the southern extent of the lament, illustrating how far the impact of judgment reached across Moab's territory.