English · KJV
H3179

יָחַם

yâcham /yaw-kham'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningprobably to be hot; figuratively, to conceive
KJV usageget heat, be hot, conceive, be warm.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâcham — 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 yâcham, represented by H3179, is a primitive root primarily meaning to be hot. Figuratively, it extends to the concept of conception. Appearing 10 times in 9 unique verses, its definition includes "get heat, be hot, conceive, be warm."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H3179 is used in two distinct yet related ways. The first is in the context of procreation or conception. This is seen repeatedly in the narrative of Jacob's flocks, where he uses pilled rods to influence the animals so they would conceive (Genesis 30:38, Genesis 30:41). The term is also used for human conception in a deeply personal reflection, where the psalmist states, "in sin did my mother conceive me" Psalms 51:5. The second usage relates to literal or figurative heat. An elderly King David "gat no heat" even when covered with clothes 1 Kings 1:1, and a person's heart can be hot with avenging anger Deuteronomy 19:6. It is also used to describe a pot on coals that must be hot for purification Ezekiel 24:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H3179:

  • H2552 châmam (to be hot): This word is a direct synonym for the thermal sense of H3179. In Ecclesiastes 4:11, the two are used in parallel: "if two lie together, then they have heat H2552: but how can one be warm H3179 alone?"
  • H3205 yâlad (to bear young): This word often follows the action of H3179 in the context of procreation. For example, the flocks first conceived H3179 and then brought forth H3205 young Genesis 30:39, showing a direct causal link.
  • H2787 chârar (to burn, kindle): This term expands on the idea of intense heat. It is used alongside H3179 in Ezekiel's vision of judgment, where a pot is set on coals so it may be hot H3179 and burn H2787 to be purified Ezekiel 24:11.

Theological Significance

The theological applications of H3179 carry significant weight.

  • The Nature of Sin: The word is famously used in Psalms 51:5 to describe the moment of conception. By stating he was conceived H3179 in sin H2399, David makes a profound statement about the inherent presence of iniquity H5771 from the very beginning of human life.
  • Divine Judgment and Purification: In Ezekiel 24:11, an empty pot is made hot H3179 to melt and consume its filthiness H2932. This serves as a powerful metaphor for God's purifying judgment, where heat is the instrument used to burn away impurity.
  • Impassioned Justice: The concept of a "hot" heart is applied to the avenger H1350 of blood H1818 in Deuteronomy 19:6. This use of H3179 illustrates how human passion, when hot, can drive a person to pursue what they perceive as justice, even if it risks overtaking and slaying someone not worthy of death.

Summary

In summary, H3179 encompasses a range of meanings centered on heat. It moves from the literal warmth needed by an aging king to the biological heat of procreation in both animals and humans. Theologically, it is used to frame foundational concepts such as the origins of sinfulness, the intensity of divine judgment, and the heat of human emotion in the pursuit of justice.

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 10 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

  • יַחֵם
  • יֵחַם
  • יֶחֱמַתְ
  • יֵּחַמְנָה
  • יֶּחֱמוּ
  • תֵּחַם

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.

H2552 חָמַם a primitive root; to be hot (literally or figuratively); enflame self, get (have) heat, be (wax) hot, (be, wax) warm (se H3205 יָלַד a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bea H2787 חָרַר a primitive root; to glow, i.e. literally (to melt, burn, dry up) or figuratively (to show or incite passion); be angry, H2399 חֵטְא from חָטָא; a crime or its penalty; fault, [idiom] grievously, offence, (punishment of) sin. H5771 עָוֺן or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, puni H2932 טֻמְאָה from טָמֵא; religious impurity; filthiness, unclean(-ness).

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 9 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (4 verses); never once in the other 33.

4
Genesis
1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Kings
1
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
1
Ezekiel

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.