1697. Hemmór

Lexical Summary

Hemmór: Hamor

Original Word: Ἑμμώρ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Hemmór
Pronunciation: hem-MOR
Phonetic Spelling: (em-mor')
KJV: Emmor
NASB: Hamor
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H2544 (חֲמוֹר - Hamor))]

1. Emmor (i.e. Chamor), a Canaanite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Emmor.

Of Hebrew origin (Chamowr); Emmor (i.e. Chamor), a Canaanite -- Emmor.

see HEBREW Chamowr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Chamor
Definition
Emmor, a Canaanite
NASB Translation
Hamor (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1697: Ἑμμόρ

Ἑμμόρ (Αμμωρ L T Tr (but WH Ἑμμώρ, see their Introductory § 408)), ὁ (חֲמור i. e. ass), Emmor (or Hamor, according to the Hebrew), proper name of a man: Acts 7:16; see concerning him, Genesis 33:19; Genesis 34:2f

Topical Lexicon

Identity and Background

Hamor was a Hivite ruler of the city of Shechem and the father of Shechem, after whom the city was named. His engagement with the patriarch Jacob established an early Israelite claim to a parcel of land in Canaan, and his account intersects themes of covenant, purity, and inheritance.

Biblical Occurrence in the New Testament

Acts 7:16 is the single New Testament occurrence of the name. In his defense before the Sanhedrin, Stephen recounts that the patriarchs “were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem”. The mention underscores the continuity of God’s purposes from Abraham through the patriarchs to the coming of Christ.

Old Testament Narrative Context

1. Purchase of Land (Genesis 33:19). Jacob “bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver”.
2. The Dinah Incident (Genesis 34). Hamor’s negotiations with Jacob’s sons following Shechem’s violation of Dinah expose a clash between covenant holiness and Canaanite assimilation.
3. Burial Site (Genesis 50:13; Joshua 24:32). The tract bought from Hamor became a family graveyard. Joseph’s bones were later interred there, signifying the Israelites’ attachment to the promised land even in exile.
4. Later Historical Echo (Judges 9:28). Gaal son of Ebed invokes “Hamor, the father of Shechem,” during a political revolt, showing the enduring identity of the city with its ancient founder.

Theological Themes

• Covenant and Land: Hamor’s field links the patriarchs to a concrete foothold in Canaan before the conquest, foreshadowing the full inheritance under Joshua.
• Holiness versus Compromise: The Dinah narrative warns against unholy alliances while also exposing the danger of vengeance apart from divine guidance.
• Burial and Hope of Resurrection: The use of Hamor’s land as a family tomb embeds hope in the promise that God would ultimately give the land to Israel and raise His people, a hope fulfilled in Christ’s resurrection.

Connection to the Patriarchal Land Promise

Stephen’s citation of the purchase unites Abraham’s faith, Jacob’s settlement, and Israel’s later possession of the land. While Genesis records that Jacob, not Abraham, completed the transaction, Stephen’s wording reflects rabbinic shorthand that saw the patriarchal family acting in concert. The emphasis is not on legal technicalities but on God’s faithfulness to give His people a heritage—a point Stephen presses to show that same faithfulness realized in Jesus.

New Testament Application and Ministry Significance

• Historical Credibility: The seamless reference in Acts validates the historical reliability of the Pentateuch and the Prophets.
• Continuity of Redemption: By linking the tomb in Shechem to Abraham, Stephen places the gospel squarely inside Israel’s unfolding story.
• Stewardship and Witness: Jacob’s lawful acquisition of property provides an early model of honest dealings with “outsiders” and a testimony to surrounding peoples.
• Ethical Purity: The tragedy surrounding Dinah cautions believers to pursue holiness while avoiding both compromise and unbridled retaliation.

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

1. Trust in God’s Long-Term Fidelity: What began as a small purchase became a marker of the everlasting covenant.
2. Pursue Integrity in Transactions: Jacob’s payment “in silver” highlights transparent dealings with the world.
3. Guard Covenant Identity: Engagement with culture must never erode allegiance to God’s standards.
4. Anchor Hope in Resurrection: Just as Joseph’s bones rested in Hamor’s field awaiting the promised land, believers await the final resurrection in the new creation.

Related References

Genesis 33:19; Genesis 34:1–31; Genesis 50:13

Joshua 24:32

Judges 9:28

John 4:5

Acts 7:16

Forms and Transliterations

Εμμωρ Ἑμμὼρ Emmor Emmōr Hemmor Hemmōr Hemmṑr

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 7:16 N
GRK: τῶν υἱῶν Ἑμμὼρ ἐν Συχέμ
NAS: from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
KJV: the sons of Emmor [the father]
INT: the sons of Hamor in of Shechem

Strong's Greek 1697
1 Occurrence

Ἑμμὼρ — 1 Occ.