English · KJV
H1990

הָם

Hâm /hawm/ Ask about this word
Rootof uncertain derivation
MeaningHam, a region of Palestine
KJV usageHam.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Hâm — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word Hâm H1990, of uncertain derivation, identifies Ham, a region of Palestine. It appears only 1 time in 1 verse, marking its specific use in the biblical text to name a particular location.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single appearance of H1990 is in Genesis 14:5, where it is identified as the place where the Zuzims were attacked. The verse describes a military campaign led by Kᵉdorlâʻômer H3540 and allied kings H4428. They came H935 in the fourteenth year H8141 and smote H5221 several tribes, including the Zuzims in Ham, the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of this event:

  • H3540 Kᵉdorlâʻômer (an early Persian king): The leader of the invading kings who carried out the attack described in Genesis 14:5.
  • H2104 Zûwzîym (Zuzims): An aboriginal tribe of Palestine that was smitten in the region of Ham Genesis 14:5.
  • H368 ʼÊymîym (Emims): An early tribe who were also defeated during the same military campaign, highlighting the scope of the conflict Genesis 14:5.
  • H5221 nâkâh (to strike, smite, kill): This verb describes the decisive action taken against the peoples of the region, including those in Ham.

Theological Significance

The significance of H1990 is rooted in its role within the biblical historical narrative.

  • Geographical Anchor: The primary function of Ham is to provide a specific geographical location for the events of Genesis 14:5, grounding the account in a real-world setting.
  • Site of Conflict: The region is recorded specifically as the site of a military engagement where the Zûwzîym H2104 were smitten by the forces of Kᵉdorlâʻômer H3540.
  • Part of a Larger Campaign: The conflict in Ham was not an isolated event but a key part of a broader military action by Kᵉdorlâʻômer to reassert dominance after a rebellion Genesis 14:4.

Summary

In summary, Hâm H1990 is a specific geographical place name with a single, focused use in Scripture. It serves to identify the location where the Zûwzîym H2104 were defeated during the military campaign of Kᵉdorlâʻômer H3540 and his allies. While not a word with extensive theological development, its presence in Genesis 14:5 provides a concrete detail that anchors the biblical account of this ancient conflict in a specific time and place.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הָם

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3540 כְּדׇרְלָעֹמֶר of foreign origin; Kedorlaomer, an early Persian king; Chedorlaomer. H4428 מֶלֶךְ from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. H935 בּוֹא a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] H8141 שָׁנֶה (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phras H5221 נָכָה a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [id H2104 זוּזִים plural probably from the same as זִיז; prominent; Zuzites, an aboriginal tribe of Palestine; Zuzims.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Genesis — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.