What is the meaning of “Hebron”?
Question:
I need research information on the meaning of "Hebron": one meaning a place where we learn to relate to people, not on the basis of what they do for us, but in recognition of God's work in bringing us together.
Answer:
Hebron is most noted as a city located south of Jerusalem. Numbers 13:22 tells us that the town was built seven years before Zoan was built in Egypt. It was also known by the older name of "the city of the Arba", or Kirjath Arba, "And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim)" (Joshua 14:15). Hebron was where Abraham frequently stayed during his travels and it was here that he buried his beloved wife, Sarah (Genesis 13:18; 23:2, 17-20). After the conquering of Canaan, Hebron was given to Caleb as his inheritance (Joshua 14:13). Hebron was also where David was originally crowned king and where he reigned for his first seven and a half years (II Samuel 5:5).
Two people were also named Hebron; the third son of Kohath of the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:18) and a descendant of Caleb (I Chronicles 2:42-43).
As far as the meaning of the word "Hebron," spelled chevron in Hebrew, it is a proper noun derived from similar Hebrews words: chevar (to unite, to join); chever (association), chaver (companion), and chevrah (association, company). The word "Hebron" itself is only used as a name of a place or a person in the Bible; it carries no deeper meaning, nor is it used in a symbolic fashion in the Scriptures.
