English · KJV
H2786

חָרַק

châraq /khaw-rak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto grate the teeth
KJV usagegnash.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of châraq — 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 châraq, represented by H2786, is a primitive root defined as to grate the teeth; gnash. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, consistently depicting an intense and visceral reaction of hostility or anguish. It is a physical manifestation of deep-seated rage, hatred, and contempt.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H2786 is exclusively used to describe the actions of the wicked, enemies, or mockers. It is an expression of malice, as when the wicked plotteh H2161 against the just and gnasheth upon him with his teeth Psalms 37:12. This act also portrays profound grief and impotent rage, where the wicked sees the state of the righteous, is grieved H3707, and gnashes his teeth before melting away in defeat Psalms 112:10. In a state of affliction, Job uses this term to describe his enemy, who gnasheth upon him as an act of personal hatred and wrath Job 16:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the context of animosity surrounding the act of gnashing teeth:

  • H7563 râshâʻ (wicked): This term identifies the character of those who perform the action. It is the wicked who plots against the just and gnashes his teeth in rage and eventual despair (Psalms 37:12, Psalms 112:10).
  • H341 ʼôyêb (enemy): This word defines the hostile relationship. In Lamentations, Israel's enemies open their mouths, hiss, and gnash the teeth in triumph over Jerusalem's destruction Lamentations 2:16.
  • H3707 kaʻaç (to be grieved, rage): This root word reveals the powerful emotion driving the physical act. The wicked is grieved with rage upon seeing the righteous, leading directly to the gnashing of teeth Psalms 112:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2786 is found in its portrayal of the heart of the ungodly.

  • A Sign of Impotent Fury: The act of gnashing teeth is not a sign of strength but of frustrated rage. The wicked man gnashes his teeth and then melts away H4549, and his desire will perish H6, showing his ultimate powerlessness Psalms 112:10.
  • Expression of Malicious Contempt: The gesture is linked with deep scorn. In Psalms 35:16, it is performed by hypocritical H2611 mockers H3934. Likewise, enemies combine it with hissing as they mock a fallen Jerusalem, believing they have swallowed her up H1104 Lamentations 2:16.
  • Manifestation of Hostility: Gashing teeth is the outward display of inward hatred and wrath. It accompanies the violent tearing and hateful gaze of an enemy H6862 bent on destruction Job 16:9.

Summary

In summary, H2786 is a powerful and graphic term that signifies more than a simple physical tic. It is a scriptural indicator of profound spiritual sickness, revealing a heart consumed by rage, hatred, and malice. The act of gnashing teeth is consistently attributed to the wicked and enemies of God's people, often as a final, desperate expression of fury in the face of their own ultimate defeat.

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 verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 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.

  • יַּחַרְקוּ
  • יַחֲרֹק
  • חָרֹק
  • חֹרֵק
  • חָרַק

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2161 זָמַם a primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense; consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil). H3707 כַּעַס a primitive root; to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant; be angry, be grieved, take indignation, pro H7563 רָשָׁע from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), tha H341 אֹיֵב or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe. H4549 מָסַס a primitive root; to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief); discourage, H6 אָבַד a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy); break, des

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

Appears in 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Job
3
Psalms
1
Lamentations

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.