Word Study for H2565 (חֲמֹרָה)

chămôrâh /kham-o-raw'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga heap

KJV usageheap.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chămôrâh — 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 chămôrâh, represented by H2565, means a heap; heap. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times within a single, unique verse in the entire Bible. Its significance is derived entirely from its specific, dramatic context and its linguistic relationship to a related word.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H2565 is in Judges 15:16, where Samson H8123 declares his victory over the Philistines. After slaying a thousand men H376 with the jawbone H3895 of an ass H2543, he exclaims, "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps... have I slain a thousand men." The repetition of the word emphasizes the massive scale of the slaughter, creating a vivid image of the piles of his defeated enemies.

Related Words & Concepts

The meaning of H2565 is illuminated by its connection to several key words within its only context:

H2543 chămôwr (a male ass): This word is central to the passage. The instrument of Samson's victory, the jawbone of an ass, becomes the basis for a pun, as its Hebrew root is related to the word for heap Judges 15:16. The ass is also mentioned throughout scripture as an animal of value and property (Genesis 24:35, Exodus 20:17).
H3895 lᵉchîy (jaw-bone): This refers to the specific weapon Samson used. The term can mean jaw-bone or cheek, as seen in descriptions of beauty or suffering (Song of Solomon 1:10, Lamentations 1:2).
H5221 nâkâh (to strike, slay, smite): This verb describes the violent action that produced the "heaps." It is used broadly for striking or killing, whether by human hands or as an act of God (Isaiah 53:4, Exodus 17:6).
H8123 Shimshôwn (Samson): The Israelite judge who performs this feat. His story is one of great strength, and this event is a primary example of his power Judges 15:16.

Theological Significance

The significance of H2565 is found in the themes of the narrative rather than in a broad theological concept.

Literary Wordplay: The primary function of chămôrâh is to create a memorable pun. The similarity between the word for "ass" (chămôwr) and "heap" (chămôrâh) forever links the tool of the victory with its result.
Symbol of Overwhelming Victory: The phrase "heaps upon heaps" serves as a powerful hyperbole to illustrate the totality of Samson's triumph against overwhelming odds. It graphically portrays the outcome of divinely granted strength.
Commemoration of a Deed: Samson's statement is a declaration of victory that is meant to be remembered. By using this specific word, the narrative embeds the nature of the event—slaying enemies with a donkey's jawbone—into the very description of its aftermath.

Summary

In summary, chămôrâh H2565 is a highly specialized term whose entire meaning is locked within the context of Judges 15:16. It is not a word with broad application but one used for a specific literary and dramatic effect. Its use demonstrates how biblical Hebrew can employ wordplay to create a lasting and vivid image, forever connecting Samson, the jawbone of an ass, and the resulting "heaps" of his enemies in a single, powerful declaration.

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 2 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.

חֲמֹרָתָיִם
חֲמוֹר

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

1 verse, all in Judges — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.