חָמַם

châmam /khaw-mam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be hot (literally or figuratively)
KJV usageenflame self, get (have) heat, be (wax) hot, (be, wax) warm (self, at).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châmam, represented by H2552, is a primitive root primarily meaning to be hot. Appearing 13 times in 12 unique verses, its usage spans both literal and figurative applications. The term can describe the physical sensation of warmth, the act of getting heat from a source, or the state of being figuratively enflamed with passion or anger.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its literal sense, H2552 is used to describe natural and induced warmth. In Exodus 16:21, the sun waxed hot and melted the manna provided to the Israelites. It also refers to the simple comfort of being warm, as when a man uses wood from a tree to warm himself by a fire Isaiah 44:15-16. In a life-restoring event, the flesh of a child waxed warm when the prophet Elisha lay upon him 2 Kings 4:34. Figuratively, the word depicts intense spiritual or emotional states, such as "Enflaming H2552 yourselves with idols" Isaiah 57:5 or a heart that was hot during deep meditation Psalms 39:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of heat and its source:

  • H784 'êsh (fire): This is the literal source for much of the heat described. In Psalms 39:3, the psalmist's heart was hot and as a result, a fire burned within him.
  • H1197 bâʻar (to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating)): This verb describes the action that produces heat. It is used in parallel with H2552 when a man takes wood to burn and warm himself Isaiah 44:15.
  • H3179 yâcham (to be hot; figuratively, to conceive): A close synonym for being warm. It is used in Ecclesiastes 4:11, which contrasts the heat H2552 two have together with how one can be warm H3179 alone.

Theological Significance

The theological applications of H2552 are dual-sided, representing both life-sustaining righteousness and destructive sin.

  • Provision and Life: Warmth is depicted as a blessing and a necessity for life. Job speaks of righteousness as providing clothing so that the loins of the poor are warmed Job 31:20. The restoration of the child's life in 2 Kings 4:34 is marked by his flesh becoming warm. King David's servants sought someone to help him get heat in his old age 1 Kings 1:2.
  • Idolatrous Passion: The figurative heat of H2552 is frequently associated with spiritual corruption. Israel is condemned for "Enflaming H2552 yourselves with idols H410" Isaiah 57:5. Hosea describes a corrupt people as "all hot H2552 as an oven H8574," a state that leads them to devour their judges and forget God Hosea 7:7.
  • Divine Judgment: The absence of heat is a sign of total desolation. In a prophecy of judgment, Isaiah states that a consuming fire will leave nothing behind, not even "a coal H1513 to warm H2552 at" Isaiah 47:14.

Summary

In summary, châmam H2552 is a fundamental word that uses the physical concept of heat to explore deeper spiritual realities. It illustrates a biblical principle where the same element can be a source of life, comfort, and provision when used righteously, or a metaphor for sinful passion, idolatry, and judgment when directed away from God. From the sun's rays to the warmth of a human body, heat is a powerful symbol of both divine blessing and human failing.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and a noun across 22 occurrences, inflected in 12 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Infinitive Construct 5×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hithpael Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Singular Masculine Construct 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 8 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses).

1
Exodus
1
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
2
Job
1
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
1
Hosea

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