חֲצַר סוּסָה
Chatsar-Susah, a place in Palestine
Definition
חֲצַר סוּסָה (Chatsar-Susah) is a proper noun referring to a specific settlement or village in the territory allotted to the tribe of Simeon, as recorded in Joshua 19:5. The name literally means 'village of the mare' or 'enclosure of the horse,' suggesting a location possibly associated with horse breeding, cavalry, or a prominent geographical feature. As a place name, it appears only once in the biblical text, and its exact location remains uncertain to modern archaeology. It is listed among the towns given to Simeon within the larger inheritance of Judah (Joshua 19:1-9).
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively once in the Old Testament as a geographical proper noun. It appears in the context of the detailed land allotments to the tribes of Israel following the conquest of Canaan. Specifically, it is listed in Joshua 19:5 as one of the towns given to the tribe of Simeon. There are no other usages or contextual patterns, as it functions solely as a specific place name in this administrative list.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: חָצֵר (chatser, H2691), meaning 'village,' 'settlement,' or 'enclosed court,' and סוּסָה (susah, H5484), the feminine form of 'horse,' meaning 'mare.' Thus, the name directly translates to 'village of the mare' or 'enclosure of the horse.' It likely described a location known for horses, perhaps for breeding, trade, or as a military post for chariotry, deriving its identity from a notable local feature or function.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, horses were symbols of military power and wealth, primarily used for chariots and cavalry rather than agriculture. A place named 'village of the mare' would likely have been associated with the royal or military establishment of horses, which were controlled by the state (cf. 1 Kings 10:26-29). For the tribe of Simeon, receiving a town with such a name might indicate their inheritance included areas with strategic or economic significance related to the monarchy's infrastructure, though Simeon itself was a relatively minor tribe.
No direct synonyms as a unique place name. Related conceptually to: חָצֵר (chatser, H2691) — the generic term for 'village' or 'enclosure' used in many compound place names. עִיר (ʿir, H5892) — a more general term for 'city' or 'town,' often larger than a chatser.
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 →