Word Study for H2770 (חֶרְמֵשׁ)

chermêsh /kher-mashe'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga sickle (as cutting)

KJV usagesickle.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chermêsh — 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 chermêsh, represented by H2770, is defined as a sickle. Its definition notes it is a tool for cutting. This word appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively in the book of Deuteronomy, where it functions as a key agricultural implement.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H2770 is used in specific legal and ceremonial contexts. Its first appearance marks the beginning of a religious observance; the counting of seven weeks is to begin "from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn" Deuteronomy 16:9. It is also used to establish a law regarding a neighbor's property. While an individual may enter a neighbor's field and pluck ears of corn by hand, the law forbids them from moving a sickle to their neighbor's standing corn Deuteronomy 23:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which the sickle is used:

H7054 qâmâh (standing corn): This word describes what the sickle acts upon. Defined as something that rises, i.e. a stalk of grain, it represents the mature harvest ready for cutting (Deuteronomy 16:9, Deuteronomy 23:25).
H6998 qâṭaph (to pluck): This action is explicitly contrasted with using a sickle. One is permitted to pluck ears of corn by hand in a neighbor's field, but not to use a harvesting tool like a sickle Deuteronomy 23:25. This distinguishes between taking a small amount for immediate need and systematic reaping.

Theological Significance

The legal and ceremonial weight of H2770 is significant despite its rare usage.

Marker of Sacred Time: The act of putting the sickle to the corn is not merely an agricultural chore; it is the official trigger for beginning the seven-week count for a holy festival, linking the harvest directly to the religious calendar Deuteronomy 16:9.
Symbol of Lawful Harvest: The tool delineates the boundary between permissible gleaning and unlawful reaping. Using one's hand is allowed, but using a sickle in another's field is forbidden, making the tool a symbol of a full-scale, authorized harvest Deuteronomy 23:25.
Instrument of Cutting: Derived from a root meaning "to cut," the sickle is the essential instrument for felling the standing corn H7054, representing a decisive action that turns a growing crop into a gathered resource.

Summary

In summary, H2770 is more than just a simple agricultural tool. While it appears only twice, chermêsh plays a crucial role in Old Testament law. It serves as a starting point for a religious festival and as a legal distinction in matters of property and provision for the poor. The word illustrates how a common object can be imbued with both ceremonial and legal significance.

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 3 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.

חֶרְמֵשׁ
מַחֲרֵשָׁת

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

2 verses, all in Deuteronomy — 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.