### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chammân**, represented by `{{H2553}}`, refers to an **idol** or **image**, specifically a **sun-pillar**. It appears **8 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently appearing in contexts of idolatry and its condemnation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2553}}` is consistently associated with idolatrous worship that provokes divine judgment. The term is frequently used in prophecies and historical accounts detailing the destruction of pagan objects. For example, God warns in Leviticus that He will "cut down your **images**" [[Leviticus 26:30]]. This is fulfilled in the reforms of righteous kings, such as when they "brake down the altars of Baalim...and the **images**" [[2 Chronicles 34:4]]. The prophets also foretell their destruction, declaring that **images** `{{H2553}}` will be "cut down" [[Ezekiel 6:6]] and "shall not stand up" [[Isaiah 27:9]] as part of Israel's purification.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help contextualize the nature of the idolatry associated with **chammân**:
* `{{H1116}}` **bâmâh** (high place): Defined as **an elevation** or **high place**. These locations were often the sites of illicit worship, where images and altars were erected ([[Leviticus 26:30]], [[Ezekiel 6:6]]).
* `{{H4196}}` **mizbêach** (altar): An **altar**. The **images** of `{{H2553}}` were part of a larger worship system that included altars, which were also commanded to be destroyed ([[Isaiah 27:9]], [[Ezekiel 6:4]]).
* `{{H842}}` **ʼăshêrâh** (grove): An image of **Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess**, also referred to as a **grove**. These were frequently destroyed alongside the sun-pillars, indicating a common pagan practice ([[Isaiah 17:8]], [[2 Chronicles 34:7]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2553}}` is centered on the themes of idolatry and divine judgment.
* **Sign of Apostasy:** The presence of a **chammân** is a clear indicator of Israel's departure from its covenant with God. These images are consistently linked with the worship of foreign deities like **Baal** `{{H1168}}` and are part of the "iniquity of Jacob" that must be purged ([[Isaiah 27:9]], [[2 Chronicles 34:4]]).
* **Object of Divine Wrath:** Scripture repeatedly marks these sun-pillars for destruction. God's command to "cut down your **images**" [[Leviticus 26:30]] and the prophetic declarations that they "shall be broken" [[Ezekiel 6:4]] highlight God's intolerance for idolatry and the certainty of His judgment against it.
* **Prerequisite for Purity:** The removal of `{{H2553}}` is presented as a necessary step for national cleansing and restoration. The destruction of **images** is a key component of religious reforms that lead to the kingdom being "quiet" [[2 Chronicles 14:5]] and is the "fruit" of taking away sin [[Isaiah 27:9]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2553}}` **chammân** is not merely an idol, but specifically a **sun-pillar** associated with pagan worship. Its appearances in Scripture are exclusively negative, marking it as an object of divine wrath that must be torn down. The term serves as a powerful symbol of covenant unfaithfulness and is consistently linked with other idolatrous paraphernalia like high places and altars. Its destruction is a central theme in narratives of both divine judgment and righteous reform, illustrating the non-negotiable demand for exclusive worship of the one true God.
TRV