חֹלוֹן

Cholon, the name of two places in Palestine

Definition

Cholon (חֹלוֹן) is a proper noun referring to two distinct locations in ancient Palestine. The primary reference is to a city in the hill country of Judah, allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:51) and later designated as a Levitical city for the Kohathites (Joshua 21:15). A second location, also called Cholon, appears in the prophecy against Moab in Jeremiah 48:21, indicating a town in the Moabite plateau. The name itself, meaning 'sandy' or 'place of sand,' likely describes the physical terrain of these settlements.

Biblical Usage

The word is used exclusively as a place name in three Old Testament verses. In Joshua, it identifies a specific city within the tribal allotments and priestly cities of Israel (Joshua 15:51, 21:15). In Jeremiah, it is listed among the cities of Moab that will face judgment (Jeremiah 48:21). Its usage is purely geographical, serving to locate towns within the biblical landscape.

Etymology

The name חֹלוֹן (Cholon) is derived from the Hebrew root חוֹל (chôl, H2344), meaning 'sand.' It is a locative noun, likely describing a sandy place or region. The shortened form חֹלֹן also appears. This etymology is typical for place names in the Semitic world, which often describe a location's physical characteristics.

Semantic Range

As a place name, Cholon reflects the ancient Israelite and Near Eastern practice of naming settlements after local geographic features. A 'sandy' location would have been a recognizable landmark in the arid regions of Judah and Moab. Its designation as a Levitical city (Joshua 21:15) integrates it into the theological and administrative system of tribal Israel, where priests and Levites were given cities scattered among the other tribes.

חוֹל (chôl, H2344) — The root word meaning 'sand,' from which the place name is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References