And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,

JOSHUA 15:25KJV
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Joshua 15:25 (KJV)

What does Joshua 15:25 mean?

Joshua 15:25 lists several towns—Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, and Hezron (which is Hazor)—as part of the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah. This verse is part of a larger section that details the boundaries and cities belonging to Judah after the Israelites entered the land of Canaan.

In this passage, the writer is recording the allotment of land as directed by Joshua, the leader of Israel, following the conquest of Canaan. The verse simply names towns within Judah’s inheritance, helping to define the tribe’s borders and settlements. These place names would have been familiar markers for the original audience, grounding the tribal territory in real geography.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 15:25

  • חָצוֹר (Ḥāṣōr, "Hazor"): This name means "enclosure" or "fortress," and it appears twice in the verse, possibly referring to two different places or a main town and its surrounding area.
  • חַדַּתָּה (Ḥaddattāh, "Hadattah"): This name is less clear in meaning, but it is included as a distinct settlement in Judah’s territory.
  • קְרִיּוֹת (Qeriyyōt, "Kerioth"): This word means "towns" or "villages," and it may refer to a group of settlements or a specific town known by this name.
  • חֶצְרוֹן (Ḥeṣrōn, "Hezron"): This name is listed with a note that it is also called Hazor, which could indicate a dual name or a clarification for the reader.

Why Joshua 15:25 matters

  • Joshua 15:25 helps clarify the specific boundaries and settlements given to the tribe of Judah, showing the care taken to record each group’s inheritance in detail.
  • The mention of both Hezron and Hazor, with the note that Hezron is Hazor, may help readers avoid confusion between places with similar or identical names in ancient Israel.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of God’s promises being fulfilled as the Israelites receive concrete portions of the land, grounding spiritual promises in real, lived geography.

Where else these words appear

“Kerioth” Hebrew H7152 · used in 4 verses

  • Jeremiah 48:24 And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
  • Jeremiah 48:41 Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
  • Amos 2:2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

“Hazor” Hebrew H2674 · used in 17 verses

  • Joshua 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
  • Joshua 15:23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
  • 1 Kings 9:15 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

“Hezron” Hebrew H2696 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 46:9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.
  • Joshua 15:3 And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
  • 1 Chronicles 2:18 And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.