from חוֹר and a collateral (masculine) form of גֻּדְגֹּדָה, with the article interposed; hole of the cleft; Chor-hag-Gidgad, a place in the Desert; Hor-hagidgad.
Transliteration:Chôr hag-Gidgâd
Pronunciation:khore hag-ghid-gawd'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2735}}` (Chôr hag-Gidgâd) is a proper noun designating a specific geographical location. Its etymology provides insight into its meaning. The name is compounded from two elements:
1. חֹר (Chôr): This component, related to `{{H2352}}`, signifies "hole," "cavity," or "crevice." It suggests a depression, opening, or perhaps a narrow passage in the terrain.
2. הַגִּדְגָּד (hag-Gidgâd): The definite article הַ ("the") precedes גִּדְגָּד (Gidgâd), which is identified as a collateral (masculine) form of גֻּדְגֹּדָה (Gudgodah, `{{H1414}}`). The root of Gudgodah/Gidgad is likely connected to גָּדַד (gadad, `{{H1413}}`), meaning "to cut" or "to cleave." Thus, גִּדְגָּד denotes a "cleft" or "cutting."
Combining these elements, the name `{{H2735}}` literally translates to "Hole of the Cleft" or "Hole of Gidgad." This suggests a place characterized by a significant depression or opening within a rugged, possibly fissured, landscape. Its semantic range is narrow, functioning solely as a geographical marker within the biblical narrative of the Exodus.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H2735}}` appears once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Numbers, within the detailed itinerary of the Israelite wilderness wanderings:
* [[Numbers 33:32]]: "And they removed from Hor-hagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah."
This verse places Hor-hagidgad as a specific station on the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is listed sequentially between Mount Hor (where Aaron died) and Jotbathah, a place known for water.
A parallel passage in [[Deuteronomy 10:7]] refers to the same location, though it uses the feminine form גֻּדְגֹּדָה (Gudgodah, `{{H1414}}`): "From Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of water brooks." This confirms the identity of Hor-hagidgad/Gudgodah as a single significant waypoint in the wilderness.
The context is purely geographical and historical, marking a point of encampment and departure for the Israelites. While no specific events are recorded as happening at Hor-hagidgad itself, its inclusion in the divine itinerary underscores the meticulous nature of God's leading of His people through the wilderness. It represents one of many challenging yet divinely appointed stages of their journey.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related terms for `{{H2735}}` are its constituent parts and their derivatives:
* חֹר (Chôr): The noun `{{H2352}}` ("hole," "cavity," "crevice," "noble") or `{{H2356}}` ("white," "noble," "hole") from which the first part of the name is derived. The meaning of "hole" or "cavity" is most relevant here, describing the physical characteristic of the location.
* גֻּדְגֹּדָה (Gudgodah): `{{H1414}}`, the feminine form of the second part of the name, explicitly used in [[Deuteronomy 10:7]] to refer to the same place. This confirms the interchangeability and common reference.
* גָּדַד (gadad): `{{H1413}}`, the verbal root meaning "to cut," "to cleave," "to incise." This root likely informs the meaning of Gidgad/Gudgodah as a "cleft" or "cutting," further emphasizing the rugged nature of the terrain.
Concepts related to Hor-hagidgad include:
* **Wilderness Wanderings:** It is an integral part of the forty-year journey, symbolizing a period of testing, purification, and divine provision.
* **Divine Guidance:** The precise listing of stations like Hor-hagidgad highlights God's active and detailed guidance over His people's movements.
* **Geography of the Exodus:** It contributes to the biblical geography, providing specific markers for the historical route.
### Theological Significance
While Hor-hagidgad is not a site of major revelatory events or miraculous interventions, its inclusion in the biblical record carries theological weight within the broader narrative of the Exodus.
1. **God's Meticulous Providence:** The very existence of such a detailed itinerary, naming every obscure stopping point like "Hole of the Cleft," testifies to God's meticulous care and sovereign control over Israel's journey. It underscores that every step of their path, even through difficult or seemingly insignificant places, was part of His divine plan.
2. **The Nature of the Wilderness Journey:** The name itself, "Hole of the Cleft," evokes an image of rugged, challenging terrain. This serves as a subtle reminder that the wilderness was not an easy passage but a landscape of hardship and dependence. Yet, God faithfully led His people through such places, demonstrating His power to sustain them even in the most desolate environments.
3. **A Stage in Spiritual Formation:** Each station on the Exodus route, including Hor-hagidgad, represents a stage in Israel's corporate spiritual formation. It was a place where they learned to trust God, to obey His commands, and to rely on His provision. For the reader, it serves as a type for the spiritual journey of faith, which often involves navigating difficult "holes and clefts" with divine guidance.
### Summary
`{{H2735}}` (Chôr hag-Gidgâd) is a Hebrew proper noun meaning "Hole of the Cleft" or "Hole of Gidgad." It is a specific geographical location in the wilderness, mentioned as a station in the Israelite Exodus itinerary in [[Numbers 33:32]]. The related term גֻּדְגֹּדָה (Gudgodah, `{{H1414}}`) in [[Deuteronomy 10:7]] refers to the same place. While no specific events are recorded at Hor-hagidgad, its inclusion in the detailed journey highlights God's meticulous and faithful guidance of His people through every stage of their wilderness wanderings, even through challenging terrain. It underscores the divine providence and the formative nature of the journey of faith.
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