חַשְׁמֹנָה (chash.mo.nah)
chash.mo.nah
Hashmonah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Hashmonah is a proper noun appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the itinerary of Israel’s journey through the wilderness (Numbers 33:20–21). The name translates to "fatness" or "richness," likely referring to the fertility or abundance of that specific location compared to the surrounding desert.
As a geographical marker in Numbers, it signifies one stop among many in the long trek from Egypt to the Promised Land. The sources identify it simply as a station without elaborating on its physical features beyond the implication of its name. Its brevity in Scripture highlights the detailed record-keeping of Israel’s movements rather than offering theological commentary.
The word itself carries no direct spiritual metaphor in these contexts; it is strictly a toponym. Translators render it as Hashmonah to preserve the specific identity of the place, acknowledging that while the meaning "fatness" suggests provision, the text uses it merely to locate where the people camped during their wandering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Hashmonah appears only twice in Scripture, marking a brief pause in Israel’s long journey through the wilderness. The name suggests abundance or richness, yet it serves simply as a geographical marker in the detailed itinerary of Numbers 33. It reminds us that God guides His people through every stage of their walk, even the quiet, unremarkable stops between major events.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in the ordinary moments. Life is not always filled with dramatic miracles or clear directives; often it involves waiting and moving forward step by step. Hashmonah shows that God’s provision is present even in places that seem barren or insignificant. You can trust that He is with you in every transition, whether you are resting or preparing for the next leg of your journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Hashmoneh1×
- at/ Hashmoneh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵֽ/חַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה1×
- בְּ/חַשְׁמֹנָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 33:29
They traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.
This verse records the specific moment Israel encamped at Hashmonah after leaving Mithkah, highlighting its role as a necessary station in their wilderness travel.
-
Numbers 33:30
They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
Here Hashmonah is mentioned only as the departure point for Moseroth, emphasizing that it was a temporary stop rather than a permanent destination.