from חָרַף; properly, the crop gathered, i.e. (by implication) the autumn (and winter) season; figuratively, ripeness of age; cold, winter (-house), youth.
Transliteration:chôreph
Pronunciation:kho'-ref
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2779}}` (חֹרֶף, *chôreph*) is derived from the root `{{H2778}}` (חָרַף, *charaph*), which primarily signifies "to pluck" or "to gather." This etymological connection provides the foundational meaning for `{{H2779}}`, referring to the season when crops are gathered. By implication, it denotes the autumn and winter season, a period characterized by the conclusion of the agricultural year and the onset of colder temperatures. Its semantic range encompasses:
1. **Autumn/Winter Season:** This is the most common and literal usage, referring to the colder months following summer, often associated with harvest's end and preparation for dormancy.
2. **Cold:** A direct attribute of the winter season, `{{H2779}}` can specifically denote the cold weather itself.
3. **Ripeness of Age/Prime of Life:** Figuratively, `{{H2779}}` can refer to a mature or prosperous stage of life, akin to the "autumn" or "prime" of one's years, a period of culmination and wisdom rather than decline. While some definitions include "youth," this is often interpreted as the vigor or peak of one's life, aligning with the "prime" rather than early childhood.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H2779}}` appears seven times in the Hebrew Bible, consistently reflecting its core meanings:
* **[[Genesis 8:22]]**: In this foundational post-flood promise, God declares, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Here, `{{H2779}}` is paired with "heat" (`{{H2527}}`, *chom*) and "summer" (`{{H7019}}`, *qayits*), firmly establishing its meaning as "winter" and emphasizing the divinely ordained regularity of the seasons.
* **[[Psalm 74:17]]**: "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter." This verse attributes the creation and ordering of the seasons, including `{{H2779}}` (winter), directly to God's sovereign power, reinforcing the theme of divine order.
* **[[Proverbs 20:4]]**: "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." Here, `{{H2779}}` specifically refers to "the cold" of winter, which deters the lazy person from preparing the ground for planting. This highlights the practical implications of the season for human diligence and foresight.
* **[[Job 29:4]]**: "As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle." This is the figurative usage, where `{{H2779}}` is translated as "youth" or, more accurately, "the prime of my life" or "the autumn of my life." Job reflects on a past era of prosperity, wisdom, and divine favor, likening it to the peak or mature season of life.
* **[[Jeremiah 36:22]]**: "Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month: and there were fire on the hearth before him." `{{H2779}}` here is used in the construct state, "winter house" (בֵּית הַחֹרֶף, *beit ha-chôreph*), indicating a residence designed for comfort during the cold season.
* **[[Amos 3:15]]**: "And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD." Similar to Jeremiah, `{{H2779}}` refers to the "winter house," symbolizing the luxurious dwellings of the wealthy in Samaria, which will face divine judgment.
* **[[Zechariah 14:8]]**: "And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be." This prophetic vision speaks of a perpetual flow of life-giving water from Jerusalem, indicating that God's blessing will be continuous and unfailing, regardless of `{{H2779}}` (winter) or summer.
### Related Words & Concepts
`{{H2779}}` is intrinsically linked to the agricultural and seasonal cycles of ancient Israel.
* **Root `{{H2778}}` (חָרַף, *charaph*)**: The primary root meaning "to pluck, gather," directly connects `{{H2779}}` to the harvest activity that defines the autumn season.
* **Seasonal Counterparts**: `{{H2779}}` frequently appears alongside `{{H7019}}` (קַיִץ, *qayits*, "summer") and `{{H2527}}` (חֹם, *chom*, "heat"), establishing a complete picture of the annual climatic cycle. Other related terms include `{{H2232}}` (זֶרַע, *zera'*, "seedtime") and `{{H7105}}` (קָצִיר, *qatsir*, "harvest"), further illustrating the agricultural calendar.
* **Concepts of Time and Order**: The consistent pairing of `{{H2779}}` with other seasons reinforces the biblical understanding of time as divinely ordered and cyclical, not chaotic.
* **Human Diligence**: The contrast between the sluggard who avoids the "cold" (`{{H2779}}`) and the diligent worker underscores the wisdom literature's emphasis on appropriate action in due season.
* **Prosperity and Decline**: The "winter house" imagery in prophetic books can symbolize material wealth or luxury, which may be subject to divine judgment, contrasting with the figurative "prime of life" in Job.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2779}}` extends beyond its literal meaning to profound truths about God's character and human existence:
1. **Divine Faithfulness and Cosmic Order**: The declaration in [[Genesis 8:22]] that "cold and heat, summer and winter... shall not cease" is a foundational promise of God's unwavering covenant with creation. `{{H2779}}` thus symbolizes the reliability and constancy of God's providential care, ensuring the regular rhythm of life on earth. This order is reiterated in [[Psalm 74:17]], where God is praised as the one who established the seasons.
2. **Sovereignty Over All Seasons of Life**: Just as God orchestrates the natural seasons, He is sovereign over the "seasons" of human life. Job's reflection on the "days of my youth" or "prime of life" ([[Job 29:4]]) uses `{{H2779}}` to speak of a period of divine blessing and wisdom, implying that God is present and active through all stages of human experience, from flourishing to hardship.
3. **Call to Wisdom and Diligence**: The proverb in [[Proverbs 20:4]] uses "the cold" (`{{H2779}}`) as a metaphor for challenging circumstances that test human resolve. It serves as a theological lesson: just as a farmer must overcome the discomfort of winter to prepare for harvest, so believers are called to diligence and foresight in all aspects of life, trusting God's provision while acting responsibly.
4. **Context for Judgment and Blessing**: The "winter house" in [[Amos 3:15]] and [[Jeremiah 36:22]] illustrates how material comfort, especially when accumulated unjustly or relied upon apart from God, can become a target of divine judgment. Conversely, the continuous flow of "living waters... in summer and in winter" in [[Zechariah 14:8]] signifies God's perpetual blessing and the enduring vitality of His presence in Jerusalem, transcending seasonal limitations.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H2779}}` (חֹרֶף, *chôreph*) primarily denotes the autumn and winter season, characterized by cold and the gathering of crops. Its usage in the biblical text highlights several key theological themes: God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereignty in maintaining the cosmic order of seasons ([[Genesis 8:22]], [[Psalm 74:17]], [[Zechariah 14:8]]); the call for human diligence and wisdom in preparing for and navigating challenging times ([[Proverbs 20:4]]); and the metaphorical application to the "prime" or "autumn" of human life, reflecting periods of divine blessing and maturity ([[Job 29:4]]). Furthermore, the concept of the "winter house" in prophetic literature serves as a symbol of material comfort that can be subject to divine scrutiny and judgment ([[Jeremiah 36:22]], [[Amos 3:15]]). Ultimately, `{{H2779}}` encapsulates both the natural rhythm of creation and profound spiritual truths concerning divine providence, human responsibility, and the cyclical nature of life under God's sovereign hand.
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