### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chammâh**, represented by `{{H2535}}`, is defined as **heat** and by implication, the **sun**. It is a specific term that appears **6 times** across **5 unique verses** in scripture, often in poetic or prophetic contexts to describe the literal sun or its powerful heat.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H2535}}` primarily refers to the sun as a celestial body. In a prophecy of future glory, the light of the **sun** is described as becoming sevenfold [[Isaiah 30:26]]. It is also used metaphorically to convey intense emotion or divine judgment, as when the **sun** is "ashamed" before the reign of the LORD [[Isaiah 24:23]]. The term is a standard for beauty and brightness, as seen in the description of a woman who is "clear as the **sun**" [[Song of Solomon 6:10]]. The word can also refer to the sun's physical effect, as in [[Psalms 19:6]], which states that nothing is hidden from its **heat**. In a state of deep sorrow, Job describes himself as mourning "without the **sun**" [[Job 30:28]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in conjunction with `{{H2535}}` to describe celestial light and purity:
* `{{H3842}}` **lᵉbânâh** (the moon): Defined as "(the) white, i.e. the moon," this word frequently appears alongside `{{H2535}}` to contrast the two great luminaries, as in [[Isaiah 24:23]] and [[Song of Solomon 6:10]].
* `{{H216}}` **ʼôwr** (light): This word for "illumination or (concrete) luminary" is used to describe the output of the **sun** `{{H2535}}`, such as when "the light of the **sun** shall be sevenfold" [[Isaiah 30:26]].
* `{{H1249}}` **bar** (clear, pure): Meaning "beloved; also pure, empty; choice, clean, clear, pure," this term is used to qualify the sun's appearance in the comparison "clear as the **sun**" [[Song of Solomon 6:10]].
* `{{H7837}}` **shachar** (morning, dawn): This word for "dawn" is used to build a sequence of celestial imagery, leading up to the comparison with the sun in [[Song of Solomon 6:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2535}}` is seen in its powerful symbolic applications.
* **Eschatological Sign:** The sun's state is used as a marker for God's ultimate judgment and restoration. It is "ashamed" when the LORD reigns [[Isaiah 24:23]], but its light is dramatically intensified when He heals His people [[Isaiah 30:26]].
* **Standard of Purity and Glory:** In the Song of Solomon, being "clear as the **sun**" [[Song of Solomon 6:10]] is the pinnacle of a person's magnificent appearance, establishing the sun as a metaphor for ultimate purity and brightness.
* **Symbol of Despair's Antithesis:** The absence of the sun is used by Job to convey the depth of his suffering, indicating that its presence represents normalcy, life, and well-being [[Job 30:28]].
* **Emblem of Pervasive Power:** The inescapable **heat** of the sun in its circuit illustrates a power in creation from which nothing can be hidden, a theme explored in [[Psalms 19:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2535}}` **chammâh** is a focused and evocative term for the **sun** and its **heat**. While used sparingly in the Old Testament, its appearances are significant, providing powerful imagery in both prophetic and poetic literature. It functions not only as a literal descriptor of the celestial body but also as a profound symbol for divine power, purity, judgment, and restoration.
TRV