צֹחַר
Tsochar, the name of a Hittite and of an Israelite
Definition
Tsochar (צֹחַר) is a proper name given to two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The first is Tsochar the Hittite, the father of Ephron, from whom Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah (Genesis 23:8). The second is Tsochar, a son of Simeon and grandson of Jacob, who went down to Egypt with the family of Israel (Genesis 46:10, Exodus 6:15). The name appears in the context of both a Canaanite patriarch and an Israelite tribal ancestor, representing two different ethnic lineages within the biblical narrative.
Biblical Usage
The name Tsochar is used four times in the Old Testament, exclusively in the Pentateuch. It appears in two primary contexts: in Genesis 23:8 and 25:9, it identifies the Hittite father of Ephron during Abraham's sojourn in Canaan. In Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15, it identifies a son of Simeon, listed among those who migrated to Egypt. The usage consistently serves genealogical and narrative identification purposes, anchoring key figures within their family and ethnic groups.
Etymology
The name Tsochar derives from the Hebrew root צ-ח-ר (ts-ḥ-r), related to the noun צַחַר (tsachar, H6713), meaning 'whiteness,' 'dazzling brightness,' or 'dawn.' It is a cognate of the name יִצְחַר (Yitschar, H3328), another Simeonite name listed in Numbers 26:12. The name likely carries a positive connotation of purity, light, or brilliance, a common theme in Semitic personal names.
Semantic Range
While a proper name, Tsochar's appearances contribute to significant theological themes. The Hittite Tsochar connects to the theme of God's promise of the land, as his son sells the first legally owned parcel of land in Canaan to Abraham, the patriarch of the promise (Genesis 23). The Israelite Tsochar, as a grandson of Jacob, is part of the developing identity of the twelve tribes, the people through whom God's redemptive plan unfolds. His inclusion in the genealogy underscores God's faithfulness to the covenant family.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, names were often meaningful and descriptive. A name meaning 'whiteness' or 'brightness' may have been intended to convey positive attributes like purity, honor, or prosperity for the child. The dual appearance of the name among both Hittites (a Canaanite people) and Israelites reflects the intermixing of cultures and names in the region, though the biblical narrative maintains a clear distinction between the covenant line and other nations.
יִצְחַר (Yitschar, H3328) — A variant Simeonite name, likely from the same root meaning 'shining.'
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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