### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chărâbôwn**, represented by `{{H2725}}`, denotes **parching heat** or **drought**. It is an exceedingly rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire biblical text, giving its single usage significant weight. Its meaning is derived from the primitive root חָרַב, which relates to dryness and desolation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2725}}` is in [[Psalms 32:4]], where the psalmist uses it as a powerful metaphor to describe his spiritual and emotional state. Under the weight of God's heavy hand, his vitality, described as "moisture," is turned into the **drought** of summer. This context frames **drought** not as a literal weather event, but as a profound inner condition of barrenness and withering brought on by divine pressure.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context help illuminate the meaning of `{{H2725}}`:
* `{{H2015}}` **hâphak** (to turn about or over): This verb is critical, as it describes the action of transformation. The psalmist’s moisture "is turned" into **drought** [[Psalms 32:4]]. This same word is used elsewhere to describe God turning mourning into dancing [[Psalms 30:11]] or a curse into a blessing [[Deuteronomy 23:5]].
* `{{H3955}}` **lᵉshad** (moisture): This word, meaning juice or vigor, stands in direct contrast to **drought**. It represents the life and vitality that the psalmist possessed before it was drained away by the heavy hand of God [[Psalms 32:4]].
* `{{H3027}}` **yâd** (hand): This word signifies power, means, and direction. In [[Psalms 32:4]], it is God's **hand** that is heavy upon the psalmist, causing the spiritual **drought**. This same "hand of our God" is described as being upon people for good when they seek Him [[Ezra 8:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2725}}` is concentrated in its single, poignant usage. It serves as a stark illustration of several key concepts:
* **The Consequence of Divine Pressure:** The state of **drought** is a direct result of God's "heavy hand" [[Psalms 32:4]]. This portrays a spiritual barrenness that can arise from unconfessed sin or as a form of divine discipline intended to lead to repentance.
* **A Metaphor for Spiritual Withering:** **Chărâbôwn** vividly depicts the condition of a soul that has lost its vitality and vigor. The comparison to the "drought of summer" `{{H7019}}` emphasizes the intensity of this internal desolation.
* **God's Transformative Power:** The experience is not passive but an active transformation where moisture "is turned" `{{H2015}}` into **drought**. This highlights God's sovereignty over the inner state of a person, able to bring about a condition of spiritual dryness to achieve His purposes.
### Summary
In summary, while **chărâbôwn** `{{H2725}}` is one of the rarest words in the Old Testament, its solitary appearance in [[Psalms 32:4]] provides a powerful and unforgettable metaphor. It moves beyond a simple definition of physical drought to articulate a profound spiritual reality: the state of inner barrenness and desolation experienced under the convicting weight of God's hand. It demonstrates how even a single use of a word can carry immense theological significance, illustrating the withering of the soul that precedes repentance and restoration.
TRV