a primitive root; to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling); cruel (man), dyed, be grieved, leavened.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châmêts**, represented by `{{H2556}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to be pungent**. It appears **8 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible. The term carries a dual meaning, referring literally to the process of fermentation, as in leavened bread, and figuratively to concepts of harshness, cruelty, grief, and even dazzling color.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The primary use of `{{H2556}}` relates to leavening. During the Exodus, the Israelites took their dough "before it was **leavened**" [[Exodus 12:34]] and baked unleavened cakes because the dough "was not **leavened**" due to their hasty departure from Egypt [[Exodus 12:39]]. This physical state has significant ritual implications, as seen in the command that anyone who eats "that which is **leavened**" during the specified seven days shall be cut off from Israel [[Exodus 12:19]]. Figuratively, `{{H2556}}` describes intense internal states. The psalmist expresses that his heart "was **grieved**" [[Psalms 73:21]] and prays for deliverance from the "**cruel** man" [[Psalms 71:4]]. In a unique application, the word is used to describe color, as in the "**dyed**" garments from Bozrah, suggesting a brilliant or dazzling appearance [[Isaiah 63:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the concept of leavening and its ritual context:
* `{{H1217}}` **bâtsêq** (dough, flour): This word refers to the dough itself, the substance that undergoes the process of leavening. It is seen in the narrative of the Exodus, where the people took their **dough** before it was leavened [[Exodus 12:34]].
* `{{H4682}}` **matstsâh** (unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven): As the direct contrast to leavened items, this word is central to the Feast of **Unleavened Bread**. The law explicitly commands, "Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat **unleavened bread**" [[Exodus 12:20]].
* `{{H7603}}` **sᵉʼôr** (leaven): This term refers to the leavening agent itself. Its presence was strictly forbidden during certain periods, as stated in the law: "Seven days shall there be no **leaven** found in your houses" [[Exodus 12:19]].
### Theological Significance
The applications of `{{H2556}}` carry significant theological weight, particularly in its literal and figurative uses.
* **Ritual Separation:** The strict prohibition against anything **leavened** `{{H2556}}` during the Passover feast establishes a clear principle of separation. Consuming it leads to being "cut off from the congregation of Israel," linking a physical substance to one's place in the covenant community [[Exodus 12:19]].
* **Symbol of Corruption:** Figuratively, the "souring" or "pungent" nature of `{{H2556}}` is used to represent negative human qualities. It describes internal emotional turmoil when the psalmist's heart "was **grieved**" [[Psalms 73:21]] and external wickedness in the form of the "**cruel** man" [[Psalms 71:4]].
* **Memorial of Divine Action:** The lack of leavening in the Israelites' dough serves as a powerful symbol of God's urgent deliverance. Their bread was "not **leavened**" precisely because "they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry," making the unleavened state a perpetual reminder of God's swift intervention [[Exodus 12:39]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2556}}` is a versatile word whose core meaning of "pungent" or "sour" extends from a literal process to a figurative state of being. It is fundamental to the laws of Passover, where "leavened" things are forbidden, but it also provides a rich vocabulary for describing a heart "grieved" with anguish, a "cruel" person, or even the brilliant color of "dyed" garments. The word illustrates how a simple physical process—fermentation—can become a powerful symbol for ritual purity, moral corruption, and the memory of God's redemptive acts.
TRV