English · KJV
H2533

חֶמְדָּן

Chemdân /khem-dawn'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom חֶמֶד
Meaningpleasant; Chemdan, an Idumaean
KJV usageHemdan.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Chemdân — 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 Chemdân, represented by H2533, is a proper name meaning pleasant. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its sole function is to identify a specific individual within an Idumaean genealogy, marking a single point in the lineage of Esau's descendants.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2533 appears exclusively within the genealogical lists of Genesis. The name is used to identify Hemdan as one of the sons of Dishon, who was a descendant of the Horites in the land of Edom. This single mention in the table of nations serves to document his place within his family line Genesis 36:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the lineage of Chemdân:

  • H1121 bên (a son): This word establishes the direct father-son relationship. In the primary verse, it identifies Hemdan and his brothers as "the children" of Dishon Genesis 36:26. The term is fundamental to tracking genealogies throughout Scripture, as when the Israelites are commanded to teach God's laws to their sons and their sons' sons Deuteronomy 4:9.
  • H1787 Dîyshôwn (Dishon, the name of two Edomites): This is the name of Chemdân's father. It grounds Chemdân in a specific patriarchal line among the dukes of the Horites in the land of Edom Genesis 36:21.

Theological Significance

The significance of H2533 is not theological but historical and genealogical. Its inclusion in Scripture serves several functions:

  • Edomite Lineage: The name is a specific marker in the detailed record of the descendants of Esau (Edom), preserving the structure of these ancient clans.
  • Genealogical Accuracy: Its presence underscores the meticulous nature of the biblical genealogies, which were vital for establishing identity, inheritance, and tribal relationships in the ancient Near East.
  • Historical Record: By being named as a son of Dishon Genesis 36:26, Chemdân is part of the historical account of the peoples who inhabited the land of Seir.

Summary

In summary, H2533 is a proper name whose importance is tied directly to its singular appearance in the Old Testament. While the name itself means "pleasant," its role in the text is purely functional. It serves as a precise data point in the genealogy of the Edomites, contributing to the comprehensive and detailed historical records preserved in the book of Genesis.

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.

  • חֶמְדָּן

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.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H1787 דִּישׁוֹן (Diyshon, the same as דִּישֹׁן; Dishon, the name of two Edomites; Dishon.

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.