by reduplication from חָבַר; a streak (like a line), as on the tiger; spot.
Transliteration:chăbarburâh
Pronunciation:khab-ar-boo-raw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term חֲבַרְבֻּרָה (chăbarburâh, `{{H2272}}`) is a unique and evocative word, derived by reduplication from the root חָבַר (chabar, `{{H2266}}`), which signifies "to join," "to unite," or "to tie together." The reduplicated form intensifies this sense of joining or connection, leading to the meaning of "streaks" or "spots." The base definition specifically references "a streak (like a line), as on the tiger," highlighting a pattern of markings that are intrinsic and fixed to the surface. Thus, the core meaning of חֲבַרְבֻּרָה refers to distinct, inherent, and often patterned markings, particularly on an animal's skin, implying a quality that is deeply embedded and not easily altered.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Remarkably, חֲבַרְבֻּרָה (chăbarburâh, `{{H2272}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, in the book of Jeremiah:
> "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots (חֲבַרְבֻּרָה)? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil." [[Jeremiah 13:23]]
In this powerful rhetorical question, the prophet Jeremiah employs the חֲבַרְבֻּרָה of the leopard as a vivid metaphor. The context is a divine indictment against Judah for their deep-seated and persistent idolatry and moral corruption. The question asserts an undeniable natural impossibility: just as an Ethiopian cannot alter the color of his skin, nor a leopard remove its inherent, unchanging spots, so too can those who are habitually accustomed to doing evil not suddenly or easily change their ingrained sinful ways. The word חֲבַרְבֻּרָה here emphasizes the fixed, intrinsic, and unalterable nature of these markings, serving as a powerful analogy for the profound and seemingly immutable spiritual condition of a people hardened in sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the root חָבַר (chabar, `{{H2266}}`), from which חֲבַרְבֻּרָה is formed. This root's meaning of "to join" or "to tie together" reinforces the idea that the spots are not superficial but are *joined* to the very essence of the leopard's skin, an integral part of its being. Other related concepts emerge from the verse's context:
* **Skin** (עוֹר, `{{H5785}}`): The medium upon which the spots are found, representing the outward manifestation of an inner nature.
* **Leopard** (נָמֵר, `{{H5246}}`): The specific animal whose unchangeable markings serve as the metaphor.
* **Habitual Evil**: The core concept being illustrated, emphasizing how repeated actions forge an entrenched character.
* **Immutability/Fixed Nature**: The central idea conveyed by the metaphor, highlighting the human inability to fundamentally alter one's ingrained sinful disposition through self-effort.
* **Transformation**: The implicit counter-concept, pointing to the necessity of a divine work for true change, contrasting with human inability.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of חֲבַרְבֻּרָה (chăbarburâh, `{{H2272}}`) carries profound theological weight. In [[Jeremiah 13:23]], it serves as a stark declaration of the depth and pervasiveness of human sin, particularly when sin becomes a deeply ingrained habit. The leopard's unchangeable spots symbolize the inherent, fixed nature of a sinful heart that has become accustomed to evil. This metaphor underscores several critical theological truths:
1. **Human Inability**: It highlights humanity's inherent inability to fundamentally change its own sinful nature or to break free from the bondage of deeply entrenched evil through sheer willpower or external effort. Just as a leopard cannot shed its spots, so a person cannot, by their own power, transform a heart accustomed to evil into one capable of doing good.
2. **The Gravity of Sin**: The metaphor emphasizes that sin is not merely a series of isolated acts but can become a defining characteristic, an intrinsic part of one's spiritual "skin."
3. **Necessity of Divine Intervention**: By asserting human inability, the passage implicitly points to the absolute necessity of God's sovereign grace and transformative power. True change, a "new heart" and "new spirit," must come from God, as promised in the New Covenant (e.g., [[Ezekiel 36:26-27]]). The חֲבַרְבֻּרָה of sin can only be overcome by a divine work of redemption and regeneration.
### Summary
חֲבַרְבֻּרָה (chăbarburâh, `{{H2272}}`) is a rare but potent Hebrew term, meaning "spots" or "streaks," specifically referring to the unalterable markings of a leopard. Its sole biblical appearance in [[Jeremiah 13:23]] establishes it as a powerful metaphor for the ingrained, immutable nature of sin in those who have become accustomed to evil. The word underscores the profound truth of human inability to fundamentally change their own sinful disposition. Theologically, it highlights the deep-seated reality of sin and implicitly points to the indispensable necessity of divine intervention for true spiritual transformation, affirming that genuine renewal can only be accomplished by God's sovereign grace rather than human effort.
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