H2717 חָרַב chârab → Root

4 languages

Root of the חרב chârab family (6 members).

To be dry, to be dried up, to be desolate or devastated. The verb חָרַב primarily denotes the state or process of becoming dry, particularly as a result of drought or cessation of water, and by extension, refers to being laid waste, devastated, or brought to ruin. In figurative and extended uses, the word expresses the devastation of land, cities, or peoples through human or divine agency, resulting in desolation or destruction. In rare cases, it is used to describe the action of slaying or destroying living beings.

Etymology Root: חרב. The core root meaning relates to being dry, to dry up, or to be parched. The derived verb חָרַב retains this original idea but expands metaphorically to mean 'to be made waste, destroyed, or ruined' in various contexts. The root appears in both qal (simple) and intensifying/conjugated forms (e.g., hiphil) with active or causative senses, such as 'to make dry/desolate.' The root is not related to the noun חֶרֶב (ḥerev, 'sword'), which has a different etymology despite similar spelling.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Bemba koloba to dry up; be dry kolob
Kaonde koloba to dry up; to be dry –lob-
Lamba kuloba to dry up; to get dry –lob-
Tonga (Zambia) kuloba to dry up (as a river, well) –lob-

Family members (5)

Lexemes that inherit from this canonical via the SilexRoot family or an additional inheritance edge. Tags show the cognate-propagation status.

  • H2718 חֲרַב chărab unset

    To destroy, lay waste, or demolish, especially in the context of rendering places uninhabitable or devoid of life. Used

  • H2720 חָרֵב chârêb unset

    Parched, dried up, or waste—describing land, places, or objects that are dried, barren, or desolate due to lack of water

  • H2722 חֹרֵב Chorev unset

    Proper name referring primarily to a mountain or mountainous region associated with pivotal events in Israelite traditio

  • H2724 חָרָבָה chârâbâh unset

    A tract of land that has become dry and desolate, often used to describe an area laid waste by natural or human-caused d

  • H2725 חֲרָבוֹן chărâbôwn unset

    A condition or state characterized by extreme dryness and lack of moisture, typically resulting from prolonged absence o

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