חֲדָשָׁה

Chadashah, a place in Palestine

Definition

Chadashah is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of Judah, as listed in Joshua 15:37. It is one of the settlements allotted to the tribe of Judah after the conquest of Canaan. The name itself means 'new' or 'new town,' likely describing a recently established or rebuilt settlement. As a place name, it has no other major senses or meanings in the biblical text beyond this single geographical reference.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 15:37, within a list of cities given to the tribe of Judah. Its usage is purely geographical, serving to identify a specific location. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it appears solely in this administrative inventory of territories.

Etymology

Chadashah is the feminine form of the Hebrew adjective חָדָשׁ (chadash, H2319), which means 'new.' It is derived from the root ח-ד-שׁ (ch-d-sh), conveying the fundamental idea of newness, renewal, or something fresh. As a place name, it follows a common pattern where settlements are named for their characteristics, in this case, likely being a 'new town.'

Semantic Range

In the ancient Near East, place names often described a location's feature, founder, or circumstance of establishment. A town named 'New' (Chadashah) likely indicated it was a recent foundation, a rebuilt site, or perhaps a settlement newer than neighboring towns. This practice helped identify places in a largely non-literate society. Its inclusion in a tribal boundary list (Joshua 15) reflects the administrative and geographical record-keeping important for establishing tribal identities and territories in ancient Israel.

חָדָשׁ (chadash, H2319) — The root adjective meaning 'new,' from which Chadashah is derived. בְּרִיאָה (beri'ah, H1277) — Refers to a 'creation' or something 'created new,' often with a divine creative act, unlike the more general 'chadash.'

Word Details

Scripture References