Word Study for H2558 (חֹמֶץ) | Strong's Concordance

chômets /kho'-mets/ Ask about this word

Meaningvinegar

KJV usagevinegar.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chômets — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word chômets, represented by H2558, is the term for vinegar. It appears 6 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the word חָמֵץ, it is used to describe an acidic liquid in both literal and figurative contexts, ranging from a simple condiment to a symbol of irritation and scorn.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H2558 appears in varied situations. In a display of kindness, Boaz offers it to Ruth as a dip for her bread during the harvest Ruth 2:14. Conversely, it is listed as a forbidden substance for a Nazirite, who must abstain from "vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink" Numbers 6:3. In a lament, the psalmist describes being given vinegar to drink in his thirst as an act of cruelty Psalms 69:21. The Proverbs use it metaphorically to describe an irritant, like "vinegar to the teeth" Proverbs 10:26, and to illustrate an incompatible action, like "vinegar upon nitre" Proverbs 25:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are used in conjunction with H2558 to clarify its meaning and context:

H3196 yayin: This word for wine is specified as a source for chômets in the Nazirite vow Numbers 6:3.
H7941 shêkâr: Defined as strong drink, this is another base from which vinegar is made, and it is likewise forbidden to the Nazirite Numbers 6:3.
H5427 nether: Meaning nitre, this substance is used in a proverb with vinegar to illustrate a pointless and aggravating reaction, as nitre is a mineral potash that effervesces with acid Proverbs 25:20.
H6227 ʻâshân: This term for smoke is used in parallel with vinegar to describe the irritating effect of a lazy servant Proverbs 10:26.
H7219 rôʼsh: Meaning gall or poison, it is paired with vinegar as something cruelly given to a person who is suffering Psalms 69:21.

Theological Significance

The figurative weight of H2558 is primarily negative, highlighting its acidic and reactive properties.

An Irritant: The proverb "As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him" uses chômets to symbolize a grating and unpleasant experience Proverbs 10:26.
An Aggravating Action: The comparison of singing songs to a heavy heart with pouring "vinegar upon nitre" depicts an action that is not only unhelpful but actively counterproductive, causing a volatile reaction Proverbs 25:20.
An Instrument of Mockery: When offered to a thirsty person, vinegar is not a gesture of relief but of scorn, especially when presented alongside gall H7219 Psalms 69:21.
A Symbol of Fermentation: Its inclusion in the Nazirite vow places it in the category of fermented products that are to be avoided during a time of special separation Numbers 6:3.

Summary

In summary, H2558 is a word with a distinct dual identity. While it can refer to a simple, everyday substance used in a setting of hospitality, its primary role in Scripture is metaphorical. It serves as a powerful symbol for things that are irritating, inappropriate, or cruel. From a dip for bread to a tool of mockery, chômets demonstrates how a common substance can be imbued with significant figurative meaning depending on its context.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

חֹמֶץ
חֹמֶץ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

Numbers

Ruth

Psalms

Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.