a primitive root; to glow, i.e. literally (to melt, burn, dry up) or figuratively (to show or incite passion); be angry, burn, dry, kindle.
Transliteration:chârar
Pronunciation:khaw-rar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H2787 (חָרַר, *chârar*) is a primitive root whose core semantic range revolves around the concept of intense heat and its resulting effects. Literally, it signifies "to glow," "to melt," "to burn," or "to dry up." This literal sense implies a transformative process where intense heat leads to desiccation, consumption, or a state of extreme dryness. Figuratively, the root extends this physical sensation of heat to emotional states, particularly "to show or incite passion," "to be angry," or "to kindle" with intense feeling. Thus, its meaning spans from the physical consequences of heat (like parchedness or burning) to the fervent, often destructive, nature of human or divine emotion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H2787 in the Hebrew Bible consistently reflect its dual literal and figurative meanings, often emphasizing the destructive or debilitating aspects of intense heat or emotion.
* **Physical Drying/Wasting Away:** In [[Psalm 102:3]] (MT 102:4), the psalmist laments, "my bones are burned as an hearth," or more accurately, "dried up like a hearth." Here, *chârar* vividly portrays the intense suffering and physical wasting away due to affliction, likening the body's desiccation to a parched, sun-baked surface.
* **Divine Judgment and Desolation:** H2787 is employed to describe the consequences of divine judgment, where God's wrath leads to barrenness and desolation. For instance, in [[Isaiah 42:15]], God declares, "I will make the mountains and hills waste, and dry up all their herbs." This usage underscores the power of God's judgment to strip away life and prosperity, leaving behind a state of utter desolation. Similarly, in [[Jeremiah 17:6]], the unfaithful person is compared to "the heath in the desert" who "shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness," using a related form of the root (*charer*) to denote extreme dryness and lack of flourishing.
* **Intense Emotional States:** While less common than its cognate `{{H2734}}` for direct expressions of anger, H2787 can imply the intense, burning nature of emotion. The base definition "to show or incite passion" or "be angry" suggests its potential in contexts where emotions are so strong they "burn" within a person.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2787 is rich with words related to heat, dryness, and intense emotion.
* **Cognates:**
* `{{H2734}}` (חָרָה, *charah*): A very close cognate, meaning "to burn," "be kindled," or "be angry." While H2787 often describes the *state* of being dried or burned, `{{H2734}}` more frequently denotes the *act* of kindling or the *process* of anger burning.
* `{{H2788}}` (חָרִיץ, *charits*): A threshing sledge, an instrument used in a process that separates grain, often involving drying.
* `{{H2790}}` (חָרֵר, *charer*): A noun derived from the root, meaning "parched place" or "dry ground," directly reflecting the literal sense of H2787.
* **Semantic Fields:**
* **Heat/Fire:** `{{H3344}}` (יָקַד, *yaqad*, to burn), `{{H784}}` (אֵשׁ, *esh*, fire).
* **Dryness/Desolation:** `{{H6723}}` (צִיָּה, *tsiyyah*, dry ground), `{{H2717}}` (חָרְבָּה, *chorbah*, desolation), `{{H6723}}` (צָמָא, *tsama*, thirst).
* **Anger/Wrath:** `{{H639}}` (אַף, *aph*, nose/anger), `{{H2534}}` (חֵמָה, *chemah*, heat/wrath). The connection here is the "burning" sensation associated with intense anger.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2787 is profound, underscoring several key biblical themes:
* **Divine Judgment and Consequence:** The "drying up" or "burning" implied by H2787 frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. When God's judgment falls, the land can become parched and barren, representing the removal of divine blessing and the resulting desolation ([[Isaiah 42:15]]). This highlights the severity of God's wrath and the inevitable outcome of rejecting His covenant.
* **Human Frailty and Suffering:** The use of H2787 to describe human suffering, where one's very bones feel "dried up," speaks to the profound depth of human affliction and despair ([[Psalm 102:3]]). It emphasizes the temporary and fragile nature of human life when faced with overwhelming trials, reminding humanity of its dependence on God for sustenance and comfort.
* **The Contrast of Blessing and Curse:** The imagery of drying and desolation stands in stark contrast to the biblical promises of flourishing, life-giving waters, and abundant provision that accompany obedience to God. Thus, H2787 serves as a stark reminder of the curse side of the covenant, where disobedience leads to spiritual and physical barrenness, emphasizing the critical importance of faithfulness to God.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H2787 (חָרַר, *chârar*) is a potent descriptor of intense heat, leading to both literal and figurative states of desiccation or fervent emotion. Its core meaning encompasses "to glow," "to melt," "to burn," and "to dry up." While it can denote the "kindling" of passion or anger, its primary biblical usage often highlights the literal "drying up" or "wasting away." In contextual analysis, H2787 frequently appears in passages depicting severe physical suffering, where bones are "dried up" by affliction ([[Psalm 102:3]]), or in pronouncements of divine judgment, where God "dries up" the land as a consequence of sin ([[Isaiah 42:15]]). Theologically, H2787 powerfully communicates themes of divine judgment, human suffering, and the stark contrast between the desolation of disobedience and the life-giving blessings of God. Its semantic range, shared with cognates like `{{H2734}}`, underscores the consuming and often destructive power of intense heat, whether literal or metaphorical, in the biblical narrative.
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