חַמָּן
a sun-pillar
Definition
The Hebrew word חַמָּן (chammân) refers to a cultic object, specifically a 'sun-pillar' or 'sun-image' used in idolatrous worship. It likely denotes a stone pillar or stele erected in honor of a solar deity, possibly the Canaanite god Baal or a sun god. In the biblical texts, it is consistently condemned as an object of pagan worship that the Israelites were commanded to destroy, as seen in Leviticus 26:30 and Ezekiel 6:4-6. The term is used interchangeably in some contexts with other pagan installations like altars (bāmôt) and incense altars (see 2 Chronicles 34:4-7).
Biblical Usage
חַמָּן is used exclusively in contexts of idolatry and religious reform. It appears in legal texts (Leviticus 26:30), historical narratives of religious cleansing (2 Chronicles 14:5; 34:4,7), and prophetic condemnations (Isaiah 17:8; 27:9; Ezekiel 6:4,6). The pattern shows it was a persistent feature of Canaanite religion that infiltrated Israelite worship, targeted during periods of revival under kings like Asa and Josiah, and denounced by prophets as a cause of divine judgment.
Etymology
Derived from the root חַמָּה (chammâh, H2535), meaning 'heat' or 'sun.' This connects the word directly to solar worship. The noun form חַמָּן essentially means 'a heated thing' or 'sun-pillar,' indicating an object dedicated to the sun. Cognates in related Semitic languages also point to associations with heat and sun deities.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the severe prohibition against idolatry in the Old Testament. The consistent command to destroy חַמָּנִים (plural) underscores God's exclusive claim to worship (the first commandment) and His jealousy for pure devotion. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the nature of the pagan practices the prophets condemned, revealing the spiritual adultery of Israel when they mixed worship of Yahweh with solar deities, leading to covenant curses and exile.
In the ancient Near Eastern cultural setting, sun-pillars were common cultic objects associated with worship of the sun god (often called Shamash). They were typically standing stones (masṣēbôt) erected at high places. For Israelites, adopting such objects represented a direct violation of covenant law and a syncretistic blend of Canaanite religion with Yahweh worship, which was fundamentally aniconic (rejecting physical images of God).
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēach, H4196) — an altar for sacrifice, which could be for Yahweh or idols, whereas a חַמָּן was specifically a solar pillar. בָּמָה (bāmâh, H1116) — a 'high place' or elevated platform for worship, often the location where a חַמָּן might be placed. פֶּסֶל (pesel, H6456) — a general term for a carved idol or image, while חַמָּן specifies a type of idol related to sun worship.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →