### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chôreb**, represented by `{{H2721}}`, signifies **drought or desolation**. It appears **16 times** across **15 unique verses** in the Bible. This term captures a range of related concepts including physical **heat**, the condition of being **dry**, the state of being **waste** or desolate, and is used idiomatically for **utterly**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Biblically, `{{H2721}}` is used to describe both natural hardship and divine action. In a literal sense, it portrays physical suffering, as when Jacob recounts how the **drought** `{{H2721}}` consumed him by day [[Genesis 31:40]], or when Job laments that his bones are burned with **heat** `{{H2721}}` [[Job 30:30]]. The word is also a key element in divine signs, such as when Gideon asks for the fleece to be **dry** `{{H2721}}` to confirm God's promise [[Judges 6:39]]. More frequently, it appears as an instrument of God's judgment. The LORD calls for a **drought** `{{H2721}}` upon the land and its produce as a corrective measure [[Haggai 1:11]], and a **drought** `{{H2721}}` on the waters of Babylon is a direct consequence of its idolatry [[Jeremiah 50:38]]. In prophetic declarations, it describes the complete ruin of cities and nations, such as Bozrah becoming a **waste** `{{H2721}}` [[Jeremiah 49:13]] and Egypt being made **utterly** `{{H2721}}` waste [[Ezekiel 29:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the scope of desolation and its opposite:
* `{{H2723}}` **chorbâh**: The feminine counterpart to `chôreb`, this word specifically denotes a **desolation** or a **decayed place**. It is often used to describe the ruins of cities that have faced judgment, such as the "perpetual **wastes**" of Bozrah [[Jeremiah 49:13]].
* `{{H3001}}` **yâbêsh**: This primitive root means **to dry up** or wither. It describes the direct result of the `chôreb`, as seen when a **drought** `{{H2721}}` upon Babylon's waters causes them to be **dried up** `{{H3001}}` [[Jeremiah 50:38]].
* `{{H2919}}` **ṭal**: Meaning **dew**, this word stands in direct contrast to the aridness of `chôreb`. This opposition is highlighted in the story of Gideon, where the fleece being **dry** `{{H2721}}` is juxtaposed with the ground being covered in **dew** `{{H2919}}` [[Judges 6:37]].
* `{{H1129}}` **bânâh**: A primitive root meaning **to build**, this term represents the reversal of the desolation signified by `chôreb`. It offers a promise of hope, as when the "waste `{{H2721}}` cities" are promised to be repaired and **built** `{{H1129}}` again [[Isaiah 61:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of `{{H2721}}` are significant, illustrating God's sovereignty over both nature and nations.
* **An Agent of Divine Judgment:** **Drought** `{{H2721}}` is not a random occurrence but a tool used by God to execute judgment against sin and idolatry. God explicitly states, "I called for a **drought**" `{{H2721}}` as a consequence for misplaced priorities [[Haggai 1:11]].
* **A Metaphor for Utter Ruin:** The term extends beyond dryness to signify complete **desolation** and the curse of a land abandoned by God. Nations like Bozrah and Egypt are prophesied to become a **waste** `{{H2721}}` and reproach as a sign of divine disfavor ([[Jeremiah 49:13]], [[Ezekiel 29:10]]).
* **A Test of Faith:** The state of being **dry** `{{H2721}}` is used by God to provide supernatural confirmation. Gideon’s test with the fleece relies on the unnatural presence or absence of moisture, demonstrating God’s ability to control the elements to communicate His will [[Judges 6:37-40]].
* **A Condition Revealing the Need for God's Shelter:** The oppressive nature of **heat** `{{H2721}}` underscores humanity's need for divine protection. God is presented as a "refuge from the storm" and a "shadow from the **heat**" `{{H2721}}`, positioning Him as the sole source of comfort against life's consuming hardships [[Isaiah 25:4]].
### Summary
In summary, **chôreb** `{{H2721}}` is a multifaceted term that transcends its literal definition of **drought** or **heat**. It functions as a powerful biblical symbol of divine judgment, physical hardship, and profound desolation. Whether describing Jacob's toil, Gideon's test, or the prophesied ruin of entire nations, `{{H2721}}` consistently points to a state of barrenness and affliction. However, it is also used to magnify the power and mercy of God, who offers refuge from the **heat** and promises to rebuild the **waste** places, turning desolation into restoration.
TRV