הָם
Ham, a region of Palestine
Definition
Ham is a proper noun referring to a specific geographical region in the ancient Near East. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is listed among the territories conquered by the coalition of kings led by Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5). The exact location of this Ham is uncertain, but the context places it in the general region of Palestine, likely south of the Dead Sea, as it is mentioned alongside other conquered peoples like the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham. It is distinct from the more common personal name Ham, the son of Noah.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Ham' is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Genesis 14:5. It functions strictly as a geographical place name within a historical narrative detailing a military campaign. The context is a list of peoples and their territories that were subdued, placing Ham alongside other ancient groups like the Rephaim and the Emim. There are no other patterns or varied usages in other books.
Etymology
The etymology of the place name Ham (H1990) is of uncertain derivation. It is not linguistically connected to the personal name Ham (H2526), son of Noah, which likely means 'hot' or 'warm'. As a geographical term, it may derive from a local Canaanite root or be a shortened form of a longer place name, but its precise origin remains unknown.
Semantic Range
In its cultural context, 'Ham' as a place name represents one of the many small kingdoms or tribal territories in Canaan and Transjordan during the patriarchal period (circa 2000-1500 BC). Its mention alongside powerful, legendary peoples like the Rephaim (often considered giants) situates it within the ancient Israelites' understanding of the land's pre-conquest inhabitants. Its precise location being lost to history highlights the great antiquity of the Genesis 14 account.
Kenaʿan (Kenaan, H3667) — Refers to the broader land of Canaan, of which Ham was likely a sub-region. ʿErets (Erets, H776) — The general Hebrew word for 'land' or 'earth', not a specific place name.
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 →