### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **hărêgâh**, represented by `{{H2028}}`, is a feminine noun that means **slaughter**. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently denoting a scene of great killing, either as an event or a designated location.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the prophetic books, `{{H2028}}` is used to convey the severity of divine judgment. Jeremiah foretells that the valley of Hinnom, also called Tophet, will be so filled with the dead that it will be renamed "the valley of **slaughter**" ([[Jeremiah 7:32]], [[Jeremiah 19:6]]). The term also describes a people destined for destruction, as seen in the recurring phrase "the flock of the **slaughter**" in Zechariah ([[Zechariah 11:4]], [[Zechariah 11:7]]). Jeremiah uses similar imagery, asking God to "pull them out like sheep" for the "day of **slaughter**" [[Jeremiah 12:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illustrate the context of this term:
* `{{H6629}}` **tsôʼn** (flock, sheep): This word, meaning a flock of sheep or goats, is used to depict those who are marked for destruction. They are referred to as the "flock of slaughter" [[Zechariah 11:4]] or "sheep for the slaughter" [[Jeremiah 12:3]], emphasizing their vulnerability.
* `{{H7462}}` **râʻâh** (to tend a flock, shepherd): The prophets are commanded to **feed** or shepherd the flock destined for slaughter ([[Zechariah 11:4]], [[Zechariah 11:7]]). This word highlights the complex role of leadership over a people facing judgment.
* `{{H6912}}` **qâbar** (to inter, bury): This word for burial is directly linked to the consequence of the slaughter. The "valley of slaughter" is defined as a place where they will **bury** the dead until there is no more room [[Jeremiah 7:32]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2028}}` is centered on the theme of divine judgment.
* **A Symbol of Retribution:** The renaming of a physical location to "the valley of **slaughter**" serves as a permanent and public symbol of the consequences of sin and God's judgment upon the people [[Jeremiah 19:6]].
* **The Helplessness of the Judged:** The imagery of a "flock of **slaughter**" powerfully conveys the helplessness of those facing their fate. The action of being pulled out `{{H5423}}` like sheep reinforces this sense of an inescapable destiny [[Jeremiah 12:3]].
* **Prophetic Responsibility:** The command to a prophet to **feed** `{{H7462}}` this doomed flock introduces a sobering aspect of leadership, involving ministering to people even when they are on a path to destruction [[Zechariah 11:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2028}}` **hărêgâh** is more than a simple word for killing. It functions as a solemn and vivid term for catastrophic judgment. Whether designating a place of mass burial or a people likened to sheep led to their death, it underscores the severe and inescapable consequences of rebellion as portrayed in the prophetic writings.
TRV