English · KJV
H2334

חַוּוֹת יָעִיר

Chavvôwth Yâʻîyr /khav-vothe' yaw-eer'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the plural of חַוָּה and a modification of יָעוּר
Meaninghamlets of Jair, a region of Palestine
KJV usage(Bashan-) Havoth-jair.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Chavvôwth Yâʻîyr — 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 phrase Chavvôwth Yâʻîyr, represented by H2334, refers to a specific region in Palestine known as the hamlets of Jair. It is derived from the plural of H2333 chavvâh and a modification of Jair's name. This geographical name appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, consistently linking a collection of towns to the legacy of a man named Jair.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2334 designates an area captured and named by Jair, the son of Manasseh. The account in Numbers states that Jair "took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair" Numbers 32:41. Deuteronomy provides a more detailed location, specifying that Jair took the country of Argob and called the region of Bashan "Bashanhavothjair" Deuteronomy 3:14. Later, in the time of the judges, the name was still in use for thirty cities in the land of Gilead possessed by the thirty sons of a different Jair, a judge of Israel Judges 10:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are key to understanding the context and meaning of Havothjair:

  • H2333 chavvâh (small town): This word forms the first part of the name H2334 and refers to an encampment or village. Its usage in Numbers 32:41 clarifies that Jair captured the small towns of a region before renaming them.
  • H2971 Yâʼîyr (Jair): Meaning "enlightener," this is the proper name of the individual who captured and named the region. The phrase H2334 literally means "the towns of Jair" Numbers 32:41.
  • H3920 lâkad (to capture or occupy): This verb describes the initial act of conquest. The Bible states that Jair went and took (captured) the small towns before renaming them Numbers 32:41.
  • H7121 qârâʼ (to call, to name): This verb is used to signify the act of naming as a proclamation of ownership and legacy. After taking the towns, Jair called them Havothjair (Numbers 32:41, Deuteronomy 3:14).

Theological Significance

The significance of H2334 is rooted in the act of claiming and settling the land.

  • Legacy Through Naming: The name serves as a memorial to the actions of Jair, son of Manasseh. He explicitly "called them after his own name" Deuteronomy 3:14, securing his legacy in the geography of Israel.
  • Conquest and Inheritance: The creation of "Havothjair" is a direct result of military conquest, where Jair took H3920 the towns. This act solidified the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh in the lands of Gilead and Bashan.
  • Geographic Identity: The name provides a distinct identity to a cluster of settlements, fixing them in Israel's history. These were not just any towns; they were specifically the "hamlets of Jair," located in Gilead Judges 10:4 and Bashan Deuteronomy 3:14.

Summary

In summary, H2334 Chavvôwth Yâʻîyr is not merely a geographical label but a testament to Israel's history of settlement. It encapsulates a story of conquest, the establishment of a personal legacy through naming, and the formal claiming of an inheritance by a clan within Israel. The name "hamlets of Jair" serves as a lasting marker on the biblical map, commemorating the actions of Jair of Manasseh.

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 8 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — 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.

  • חַוֹּת
  • יָאִיר

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.

H2333 חַוָּה properly, the same as חַוָּה (lifegiving, i.e. living-place); by implication, an encampment or village; (small) town. H2971 יָאִיר from אוֹר; enlightener; Jair, the name of four Israelites; Jair. H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative H7121 קָרָא a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly

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

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Judges (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Numbers
1
Deuteronomy
1
Judges

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.