חֲצַר סוּסִים
Chatsar-Susim, a place in Palestine
Definition
Chatsar-Susim is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. The name means 'village of horses' or 'enclosure of horses,' suggesting it was a settlement known for equine husbandry, possibly a military outpost or a royal breeding center. It is listed among the towns allotted to the tribe of Simeon during the reign of King David, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:31. This places it within the context of Israel's tribal territories and administrative organization in the southern region of Judah.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only in 1 Chronicles 4:31, within a genealogical and geographical list detailing the settlements of the tribe of Simeon. The context is administrative, documenting the towns inhabited by Simeonites 'until the reign of David.' Its usage is purely as a toponym (place name) with no narrative or descriptive elaboration in the biblical text.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: חָצֵר (chatser, H2691), meaning 'village,' 'settlement,' or 'enclosed court,' and the plural form of סוּס (cûwc, H5483), meaning 'horse.' Thus, it literally translates to 'village of horses.' This follows a common Hebrew naming pattern for locations, combining a geographic term with a descriptive element, often referencing local features or economic activities.
Semantic Range
The name 'village of horses' provides a glimpse into the military and economic culture of ancient Israel. Horses were valuable assets primarily associated with warfare, royal chariots, and trade (cf. Deuteronomy 17:16, 1 Kings 10:26-29). A settlement bearing this name likely functioned as a strategic center for breeding, training, or trading horses, reflecting the practical and military concerns of the monarchy, especially during David's reign when Israel expanded its power.
חָצֵר (chatser, H2691) — A general term for a village or enclosed settlement, whereas Chatsar-Susim is a specific, compound place name. בֵּית (bayith, H1004) — Often used in compound place names (e.g., Bethlehem) meaning 'house of,' differing from chatser's focus on an enclosure or village.
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.
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