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חֶמְדָּה

𐤇𐤌𐤃𐤄

chemdâh

H2532 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or quality of being highly desirable, pleasurable, or precious; something or someone regarded with strong positive regard, delight, or longing. The word conveys both the idea of something that is outwardly attractive and valued (such as valuable objects, produce, or possessions) and the internal feeling of desire or delight directed toward such things. In some contexts, it also suggests coveting or longing for something.

Semantic Range

delight, desire, precious thing, object of longing, pleasant object, something highly valued, something coveted

Root / Etymology

From the root חמד (ḥmd), meaning 'to desire, to take pleasure in, to covet, to delight in.' חֶמְדָּה (chemdâh) is a feminine noun form emphasizing the quality or object of desire and delight. The root denotes a spectrum from positive appreciation to more negative coveting depending on context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חֶמְדָּה is used both for abstract qualities (delight, pleasure) and for concrete objects or persons that evoke desire or pleasure, including desirable land (Daniel 11:8, 'the land of delight'), precious possessions (2 Chronicles 36:19), and attractive individuals or things (Isaiah 32:12). The term can have both positive and negative connotations: delight and joy in what is good, or coveting in forbidden contexts. The Septuagint translates it variously, often with words denoting desirable or precious things. The English translations 'delight,' 'desire,' and 'precious thing' capture the word's core but not its full range; at times, English versions narrow its nuance to 'pleasant' or 'goodly,' omitting the emotional force of longing or yearning inherent in Hebrew usage. Contrasts may be drawn with related nouns like חֵפֶץ (ḥefeṣ, 'delight, pleasure, what one takes pleasure in'), which focuses more on the act or object of pleasure rather than the desirability or longing itself. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the word's emotional resonance with delight and cherished value persists.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of חֶמֶד; delight; desire, goodly, pleasant, precious.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חמד (Chemedan) — to desire, to covet, to take pleasure in

Root חמד to desire, to take pleasure in, to covet, to delight in
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2530 חָמַד his desired one
H2531 חֶמֶד precious thing
H2533 חֶמְדָּן Desirable one
H4261 מַחְמָד desired treasures of
H4262 מַחְמֻד her desired things

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2532-02 חֶמְדָּ֔ה chemedah HNcfsa desirable object of desire object of desire 8
H2532-03 חֶמְדַּ֣ת chemedat HNcfsc precious delight of delight of 4
H2532-01 חֲמוּדֹ֖ת chamudot HNcfpa precious desirable things precious things 1
H2532-04 חֶמְדָּתָ֜/ם chemedatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp of their desire their cherished thing their desire 1
H2532-05 חֶמְדָּתֵ֖/ךְ chemedatekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your-desire your delight your delight 1
H2532-06 חֶמְדָּתִ֖/י chemedati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my pleasant my cherished delight my cherished delight 1
H2532-07 הַ/חֲמֻדֹ֔ת hachamudot HTd/Ncfpa the desirable the precious delights the desirable 1
H2532-08 הַ/חֶמְדָּֽה hachemedah HTd/Ncfsa the desire the desired thing the desired thing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2532-07 Genesis 27:15 הַ/חֲמֻדֹ֔ת hachamudot HTd/Ncfpa the desirable the precious delights the desirable
H2532-03 1 Samuel 9:20 חֶמְדַּ֣ת chemedat HNcfsc desire-of delight of the desire of
H2532-08 Isaiah 2:16 הַ/חֶמְדָּֽה hachemedah HTd/Ncfsa the desire the desired thing the desired thing
H2532-02 Jeremiah 3:19 חֶמְדָּ֔ה chemedah HNcfsa desirable object of desire object of desire
H2532-06 Jeremiah 12:10 חֶמְדָּתִ֖/י chemedati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my pleasant my cherished delight my cherished delight
H2532-02 Jeremiah 25:34 חֶמְדָּֽה chemedah HNcfsa precious object of desire desire
H2532-05 Ezekiel 26:12 חֶמְדָּתֵ֖/ךְ chemedatekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your-desire your delight your delight
H2532-02 Hosea 13:15 חֶמְדָּֽה chemedah HNcfsa precious object of desire object of desire
H2532-02 Nahum 2:10 חֶמְדָּֽה chemedah HNcfsa desirable object of desire object of desire
H2532-03 Haggai 2:7 חֶמְדַּ֣ת chemedat HNcfsc the-desire delight of desire of
H2532-02 Zechariah 7:14 חֶמְדָּ֖ה chemedah HNcfsa desirable object of desire desirable
H2532-02 Psalms 106:24 חֶמְדָּ֑ה chemedah HNcfsa of desire object of desire of desire
H2532-04 Daniel 11:8 חֶמְדָּתָ֜/ם chemedatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp of their desire their cherished thing their desire
H2532-03 Daniel 11:37 חֶמְדַּ֥ת chemedat HNcfsc the desire delight of delight of
H2532-01 Ezra 8:27 חֲמוּדֹ֖ת chamudot HNcfpa precious desirable things precious things
H2532-02 2 Chronicles 21:20 חֶמְדָּ֔ה chemedah HNcfsa one's regret object of desire object of desire
H2532-02 2 Chronicles 32:27 חֶמְדָּֽה chemedah HNcfsa of desire object of desire desire
H2532-03 2 Chronicles 36:10 חֶמְדַּ֣ת chemedat HNcfsc precious delight of precious things of
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