### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chôm**, represented by `{{H2527}}`, refers to **heat** and the state of being **hot** or **warm**. It appears 14 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used to describe literal environmental temperature, specific times of the day, and the basic physical sensation of warmth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2527}}` is used in several key contexts. It marks a specific time of day, "the **heat** of the day," during which significant events occur, such as the LORD's appearance to Abraham [[Genesis 18:1]] and a pivotal military battle [[1 Samuel 11:11]]. The word is also fundamental to the established natural order, with God promising that **cold** and **heat**, and **summer** and **winter**, will not cease as long as the earth remains [[Genesis 8:22]]. It can also refer to physical comfort or lack thereof, as when the people clothe themselves but find no **warmth** [[Haggai 1:6]], or to the simple provision of **hot** bread [[1 Samuel 21:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of temperature and climate:
* `{{H7120}}` **qôr** (cold): As a direct antonym, this word is used in parallel with **heat** to describe the fundamental cycles of nature established by God [[Genesis 8:22]].
* `{{H7019}}` **qayits** (summer): This term for the harvest season is closely associated with **heat**, both as a natural part of the year [[Genesis 8:22]] and as a time when God's presence is described as a "cloud of dew in the **heat** of harvest" [[Isaiah 18:4]].
* `{{H6723}}` **tsîyâh** (drought): This word, meaning aridity or a desert, is paired with **heat** to describe a consuming force of nature that overtakes the snow waters [[Job 24:19]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H2527}}` is significant in scripture.
* **Covenant of Natural Order:** The inclusion of **heat** in God's post-flood promise establishes it as a dependable and divinely sustained element of the created world, a sign of His faithfulness [[Genesis 8:22]].
* **Symbol of Trial and Judgment:** For the righteous, **heat** is a trial that can be overcome through faith, as seen in the tree by the water that does not fear when **heat** comes [[Jeremiah 17:8]]. Conversely, it is an instrument of judgment against the wicked, as when God acts against them in their "heat" [[Jeremiah 51:39]], or when **heat** and drought consume those who have sinned [[Job 24:19]].
* **Indicator of Divine Presence and Human Condition:** The "heat of the day" sets the stage for both divine encounters [[Genesis 18:1]] and human affairs [[2 Samuel 4:5]]. The lack of **warmth** is presented as a consequence of disobedience and unfulfilled labor [[Haggai 1:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2527}}` is a word with both practical and metaphorical weight. It functions literally to describe the environment, the seasons, and the time of day. Theologically, it is a cornerstone of God's covenant to maintain the natural order, and it serves as a powerful symbol of both divine testing for the faithful and judgment upon the unrighteous. From marking the time for opening city gates [[Nehemiah 7:3]] to describing the conditions that reveal a person's spiritual state [[Jeremiah 17:8]], **chôm** illustrates how a basic element of the physical world is imbued with significant meaning throughout scripture.
TRV