or חֲרִץ; from חָרַץ; (compare חֲרוּץ); properly, incisure or (passively) incised; hence, a threshing-sledge (with sharp teeth); also a slice (as cut); [phrase] cheese, harrow.
Transliteration:chârîyts
Pronunciation:khaw-reets'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H2757 (חָרִיץ, *chârîyts*) derives from the root חָרַץ (charats, `{{H2782}}`), which carries the core semantic range of "to cut," "to sharpen," "to incise," or "to decide." This foundational meaning informs all uses of *chârîyts*. Primarily, it denotes something that is "incised" or "cut," or an instrument used for cutting.
Its primary applications include:
1. **Threshing-sledge:** A heavy agricultural implement equipped with sharp teeth or stones on its underside, used to separate grain from chaff. This directly reflects the "incised" or "sharp" aspect of the word.
2. **Harrow:** Similar to a threshing-sledge, a harrow is a farm implement with teeth or discs used to break up and smooth the soil. Its function aligns with the cutting/breaking action.
3. **Slice or Portion:** Specifically, it refers to a "slice" or "cut portion," most notably seen in the context of cheese. This usage emphasizes the act of dividing or cutting a larger whole.
4. **Sharp object:** In a more general sense, it can refer to any sharp, pointed, or cutting implement.
The connection to חֲרוּץ (charuts, `{{H2742}}`), which can mean "sharp," "diligent," or "gold" (perhaps due to being "cut" or "refined"), further underscores the inherent sharpness and precision associated with *chârîyts*.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H2757 appears in several key biblical passages, each illuminating a facet of its semantic range:
* **[[1 Samuel 17:18]]**: In this narrative, David is instructed to bring "ten slices of cheese" (עֲשֶׂרֶת חֲרִיצֵי הֶחָלָב, *‘aseret chârîtsê heḥâlâb*) to the commander of the thousand. Here, *chârîyts* clearly denotes a "slice" or "portion" of a food item, specifically cheese, highlighting the meaning of something cut or divided from a larger whole.
* **[[2 Samuel 12:31]] and [[1 Chronicles 20:3]]**: These parallel accounts describe David's treatment of the Ammonites captured from Rabbah. He put them "under saws, and under iron threshing sledges (וּבְחָרִיצֵי הַבַּרְזֶל, *ûbəchârîtsê habbarzel*), and under axes." In this context, *chârîyts* refers to a formidable and often cruel instrument, either a threshing sledge with its sharp teeth used for grinding, or a type of iron harrow, employed here as a tool of severe punishment or forced labor. The imagery conveys a harsh, grinding, and destructive process.
* **[[Job 41:30]] (Hebrew 41:22)**: Describing the formidable Leviathan, the text states, "Sharp potsherds are under him; he spreads pointed things (חָרִיץ, *chârîyts*) upon the mire." Here, *chârîyts* likely refers to the sharp, cutting scales or protrusions of the creature, or perhaps the marks it leaves, akin to the teeth of a threshing sledge. It emphasizes the creature's impenetrable and dangerous nature.
* **[[Isaiah 28:27]]**: This verse uses *chârîyts* in its most common agricultural sense: "For dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge (בַּחֲרִיץ, *bachârîyts*), nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin; but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod." The prophet uses the threshing sledge as a familiar tool for separating grain, illustrating God's nuanced and appropriate methods of discipline and judgment, which are not always harsh but fitted to the situation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for H2757 is its root, חָרַץ (charats, `{{H2782}}`). This root signifies "to cut," "to sharpen," "to decide," or "to decree." The semantic link is evident: *chârîyts* is either something that has been cut (a slice) or an instrument that cuts (threshing sledge, harrow). The decisive nature of the root can also be subtly present in the finality of the action performed by such tools.
Another related term is חֲרוּץ (charuts, `{{H2742}}`), which shares the same root. Depending on the context, חֲרוּץ can mean "sharp" (as in a sharp instrument or diligent worker), "gold" (perhaps refined by cutting/processing), or "decided" (as in a decree). This reinforces the concept of sharpness, precision, and a definitive outcome.
The concept of threshing is also deeply related, involving other terms like *goren* (threshing floor, `{{H1637}}`), *dûsh* (to thresh, `{{H1758}}`), and various implements for processing grain. The agricultural tools represented by *chârîyts* are integral to understanding the daily life and economic realities of ancient Israel, as well as the rich agricultural metaphors employed throughout the Scriptures.
### Theological Significance
While H2757 primarily describes physical objects and actions, its occurrences contribute to broader theological themes in the biblical narrative.
The use of *chârîyts* as a "threshing-sledge" in agricultural contexts ([[Isaiah 28:27]]) connects to the pervasive biblical motif of divine agriculture. Threshing is frequently a metaphor for God's judgment, purification, and the separation of the righteous from the wicked. Just as the threshing sledge separates the valuable grain from the worthless chaff, so too does God's work in history and in individual lives aim to refine and purify. Isaiah's use of the threshing sledge illustrates God's wisdom in applying appropriate measures of discipline, not always with overwhelming force, but with discernment tailored to the need.
In the contexts of [[2 Samuel 12:31]] and [[1 Chronicles 20:3]], where *chârîyts* denotes an instrument of severe punishment or forced labor, it underscores the harsh realities of ancient warfare and the consequences of rebellion against divine or human authority. While these actions are carried out by human agents (David), they exist within a broader biblical framework where the consequences of sin and disobedience are often severe and grinding, much like the action of a threshing sledge.
The mundane "slice of cheese" in [[1 Samuel 17:18]] serves as a simple detail in the narrative of David's humble beginnings. It subtly points to the everyday provisions and the providential care that undergird the lives of biblical figures, even in the midst of momentous events.
Thus, *chârîyts*, though a concrete term, illuminates aspects of divine judgment, human suffering, and the practicalities of life that form the backdrop for God's redemptive work.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2757 (חָרִיץ, *chârîyts*) is rooted in the concept of "cutting" or "incising." Its semantic range extends from a literal "slice" or "portion" (as of cheese) to a "threshing-sledge" or "harrow," powerful agricultural implements characterized by their sharp, cutting teeth. Biblical occurrences demonstrate its use in both mundane contexts ([[1 Samuel 17:18]]) and more intense imagery related to judgment, labor, or the formidable nature of creatures ([[2 Samuel 12:31]], [[1 Chronicles 20:3]], [[Job 41:30]], [[Isaiah 28:27]]). The word's connection to its root חָרַץ (`{{H2782}}`) emphasizes the decisive and often sharp action associated with it. While primarily descriptive of physical objects, *chârîyts* contributes to the rich tapestry of biblical imagery, particularly in metaphors of divine judgment, agricultural processes, and the material realities of the ancient world.