a primitive root; to lay hold of; especially to pick up fire; heap, take (away).
Transliteration:châthâh
Pronunciation:khaw-thaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H2846}}` (חָתָה, *châthâh*) is a primitive root, conveying the fundamental action of "laying hold of" or "grasping." Its most prominent and vivid semantic extension is "to pick up fire" or "to scoop coals." This specific usage implies a deliberate, careful, and often dangerous action, involving the handling of a potent and volatile element. From this core, the meaning can extend to the more general "to take away" or "to remove," and in a causative or intensive sense, "to heap," particularly in the context of coals. The nuance often carries a sense of consequence or intentionality in the act of handling or removing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H2846}}` appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but its occurrences are highly significant:
* **[[Proverbs 6:27-28]]**: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?" Here, *châthâh* is used metaphorically for "taking fire," emphasizing the inevitable and destructive consequences of engaging in illicit or dangerous behavior (specifically, adultery in the surrounding context). The imagery underscores the inherent peril of handling something inherently destructive without suffering harm.
* **[[Proverbs 25:22]]**: "For you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you." This is perhaps the most well-known and ethically profound usage. *Châthâh* here means "to heap" or "to gather and place," referring to the act of placing burning coals on someone's head. This is not an act of literal aggression but a powerful metaphor for overwhelming an enemy with kindness, leading to shame, repentance, or a sense of obligation. It suggests an act of practical, transformative wisdom.
* **[[Isaiah 30:14]]**: "and he shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not find in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water out of the pit." In this prophetic judgment against Israel, *châthâh* describes the complete and utter destruction of a vessel, leaving no piece large enough to perform even the most basic and common tasks, such as scooping coals from the hearth. This highlights the totality of the devastation, rendering something utterly useless.
* **[[Psalm 52:5]]**: "God will likewise destroy you forever; He will take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah." Here, *châthâh* takes on the broader sense of "to take away" or "to snatch," specifically in the context of divine judgment. The wicked individual (Doeg the Edomite, in the psalm's superscription) is forcibly removed from his secure position, emphasizing God's decisive punitive action.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary association of `{{H2846}}` is with fire (`{{H784}}`, *'ēsh*) and coals (`{{H1513}}`, *gaḥel*). The act of "taking" or "grasping" connects it conceptually with verbs like `{{H3947}}` (לָקַח, *laqaḥ*, "to take, receive") or `{{H2388}}` (חָזַק, *ḥazaq*, "to be strong, seize, lay hold of"), though *châthâh* often implies a more specific or careful handling, especially of dangerous elements. The metaphorical uses link it to concepts of divine retribution, human consequences, and ethical conduct. The imagery of "coals of fire" is also found in other biblical texts, often symbolizing divine wrath or intense emotion.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2846}}` is profound, largely due to its metaphorical applications.
1. **Consequence of Sin**: In [[Proverbs 6:27-28]], *châthâh* serves as a powerful illustration of the inherent danger and unavoidable consequences of sin. Just as one cannot handle fire without being burned, so too one cannot engage in moral transgression without suffering its destructive effects. This underscores the biblical principle of sowing and reaping.
2. **Divine Judgment and Destruction**: The use in [[Isaiah 30:14]] and [[Psalm 52:5]] highlights God's sovereign power to judge and destroy. The inability to "take fire" from a shattered vessel signifies total desolation, while being "taken away" speaks to the decisive removal of the wicked from their place of security. These passages affirm God's justice and the certainty of His punitive actions against unrighteousness.
3. **Ethical Wisdom and Redemptive Love**: The most striking theological application is in [[Proverbs 25:22]], where "heaping coals of fire on his head" is an act of kindness towards an enemy. This proverb, echoed in the New Testament ([[Romans 12:20]]), transcends mere human retaliation, advocating for a radical, counter-intuitive response of generosity. The "coals" here are not for burning, but for shaming or melting the adversary's hostility, potentially leading to repentance or reconciliation. It exemplifies a form of ethical warfare that seeks to transform rather than merely defeat, reflecting a divine wisdom that overcomes evil with good.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H2846}}` (*châthâh*) is a primitive verb meaning "to lay hold of," specifically and most notably "to pick up fire" or "to scoop coals." This core meaning extends to "to take away" or "to heap." Its biblical occurrences, though few, are highly impactful. It powerfully illustrates the inevitable consequences of sin ([[Proverbs 6:27]]), the totality of divine judgment ([[Isaiah 30:14]], [[Psalm 52:5]]), and most profoundly, the transformative power of ethical kindness towards an adversary ([[Proverbs 25:22]]). Thus, *châthâh* functions as a vivid descriptor of actions involving potent elements, serving as a rich metaphor for both the dangers of moral transgression and the redemptive potential of compassionate wisdom.
TRV