Hebrew word · H2553

חַמָּן

chamaneikhem

pillar

A cult object found only in the plural (Lev 26:30; Isa 17:8; 27:9; Ezek 6:4, 6; 2 Chr 14:5; 34:4, 7). It is usually paired with high places, altars or Asherim, and it could be 'cut down' and 'shattered'. (HALOT, BDB s.v.)

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) incense altar, sun-pillar, idol, image

1a) used in idolatrous worship

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 17:8

Range of meaning

A cult object found only in the plural (Lev 26:30; Isa 17:8; 27:9; Ezek 6:4, 6; 2 Chr 14:5; 34:4, 7). It is usually paired with high places, altars or Asherim, and it could be 'cut down' and 'shattered'. Proposed meanings: incense altars or incense stands (now the majority view); 'sun pillars', from ḥammāh 'sun' (older lexicons, KJV marg.); small shrines or chapels. (HALOT, BDB s.v.)

Against the English

KJV 'images' is a vague guess. YLT 'images'. BSB, WEB, NIV and ESV say 'incense altars' or 'altars of incense'. NASB has a similar incense rendering. Older works and the KJV margin have 'sun images'.

How it drifted

Early translators did not know what the word meant. The Septuagint uses 'abominations' or similar here, and the Vulgate delubra, 'shrines'. Later evidence led to the 'incense' interpretation.

Used elsewhere in the period

An Aramaic inscription from Palmyra and Nabataean texts use ḥmn' for an object that appears to be an incense altar. Small limestone incense altars are common finds at Iron Age Israelite sites. A link with the Phoenician-Punic god Baal Hammon has also been proposed, but it is uncertain.

From the study of Isaiah 27:9

Range of meaning

A cult object found at local shrines, always in the plural in the Bible (Lev 26:30; 2 Chr 14:5; 34:4, 7; Isa 17:8; 27:9; Ezek 6:4, 6). Most scholars now take it as an 'incense altar' or 'incense stand'.

Against the English

KJV 'images' (it takes the word as 'sun-images', from ḥammah, 'sun'); YLT 'images'; BSB/WEB 'incense altars'.

How it drifted

Older interpreters derived the word from ḥammah ('sun', 'heat') and pictured sun-pillars. Later Palmyrene and Nabataean inscriptions use ḥmn' for small altars, which moved most lexicons (e.g. HALOT) toward 'incense altar'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aramaic inscriptions from Palmyra use ḥmn' of an altar or shrine. In 2 Chr 34:4 the chammanim stand 'above' the Baal altars. Small limestone horned incense altars have been dug up at Israelite sites (e.g. Megiddo, Arad), which fits the picture, though the exact Hebrew term on such objects is not attested.

From the study of Ezekiel 6:6

Range of meaning

A cult object found at high places, always in the plural (Lev 26:30; Isa 17:8; 27:9; Ezek 6:4, 6; 2 Chr 14:5; 34:4, 7). Two main proposals: (1) 'sun-pillars', from chammah 'sun' and possibly the god Baal-Hammon; (2) 'incense altars'. The second rests on Palmyrene and Nabataean inscriptions where hmn labels small incense altars, and on archaeological finds of small stone altars at Israelite sites.

Against the English

KJV has 'images', following older uncertainty. Most modern versions (WEB, BSB, and others) have 'incense altars'. Some notes still give 'sun-pillars'. The supplied lexicon gloss 'pillar' reflects the older view.

Used elsewhere in the period

The inscriptional evidence from Palmyra (Aramaic hmn' on an altar) is the main support for 'incense altar' (HALOT s.v.). The Septuagint varies: it renders the word with terms such as 'shrines' or 'wooden carvings', which shows that ancient translators were already unsure.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 1

  1. Leviticus 26:30 חַמָּ֣נֵיכֶ֔ם incense altars your

    I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.

    Here: Probably small incense altars or stands used in shrine worship. An older view linked the word to hammah, 'sun', and read it as sun-images (hence KJV 'images').

2 Chronicles · 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:5 הַֽחַמָּנִ֑ים the incense altars

    He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

  2. 2 Chronicles 34:4 וְהַֽחַמָּנִ֛ים and the incense altars

    Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

  3. 2 Chronicles 34:7 הַֽחַמָּנִ֥ים the incense altars

    He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 17:8 וְהָחַמָּנִֽים׃ and the incense altars

    They will not look to the altars they have fashioned with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars they have made with their fingers.

    Here: A rare cult object, most likely small incense altars or incense stands. The exact meaning is debated (see studies). Together with the Asherim it rounds off the list of hand-made things people had looked to.

  2. Isaiah 27:9 וְחַמָּנִֽים׃ and incense altars

    Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.

    Here: Most likely small incense altars or stands used at local shrines. The older reading 'sun images' is now less favoured. Listed with the Asherahs, they make a stock pair for illicit worship.

Ezekiel · 2

  1. Ezekiel 6:4 חַמָּֽנֵיכֶ֑ם incense altars your

    Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols.

  2. Ezekiel 6:6 חַמָּ֣נֵיכֶ֔ם incense altars your

    Wherever you live, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and desecrated, your idols smashed and obliterated, your incense altars cut down, and your works blotted out.

    Here: A cult object at the shrines. It is now usually taken to be a small stand or altar for burning incense, based on inscriptions from elsewhere. Older interpreters linked it to the sun (chammah) and translated 'sun-images'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.