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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Hul

Hul meaning

Hul in Biblical Hebrew
חול
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Hul.html

🔼The name Hul: Summary

Meaning
Circle, Writhing
Etymology
From the verb חול (hul), to writhe.
Related names
• Via חול (hul): Abel-meholah, Abihail, Aharhel, Ben-hail, Halhul, Havilah, Helam, Helem, Helon, Hilen, Holon, Mahalath, Meholathite

🔼The name Hul in the Bible

Hul is a son of Aram, son of Shem, son of Noah (Genesis 10:23).

🔼Etymology of the name Hul

The name Hul comes from the root group חול (hul I & II):

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
חול
  • Verb חול (hul I) denotes a whirling in circular motions. It comes with quite a cluster of derivatives, most notably the noun חל (hol), meaning sand; the noun חל (hil), meaning pain so bad that it makes one writhe (specifically childbirth); the noun חל (hel), which denotes a (circular) rampart, and the nouns מחול (mahol) and מחולה (mehola), which describe (whirling) dances.
  • Verb חול (hul II) means to be strong, and the important derived noun חיל (hayil) means might.
חלם
  • A by-form of the previous: the verb חלם (halam I) means to be strong.
  • Verb חלם (halam II) means to dream, and its derived noun חלום (halom) means a dream.

These curious parallels suggests that the Hebrews saw dreaming as something cyclic; see our full dictionary article on these words for a closer look at dreams in the Bible. Also note the similarities in form with the חלל (halal) cluster.

— See the full Dictionary article —

🔼Hul meaning

For a meaning of the name Hul, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Circle, and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Writhing. BDB Theological Dictionary does not translate this name but lists it under the root חול.