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הָרַס

𐤄𐤓𐤎

hâraç

H2040 verb

SILEX Entry

Root הרס to break down, to pull down, to demolish

Definition

To tear down, break apart, demolish. Refers primarily to the physical act of destroying structures (such as buildings, walls, or altars). In metaphorical usage, can describe the overthrow or nullification of abstractions such as power, alliances, or plans. The verb emphasizes a forceful, often violent, reduction of something to ruin, as opposed to gradual decay or minor damage.

Semantic Range

to tear down buildings or structures, to demolish city walls or fortifications, to destroy or ruin intentionally, to overthrow (in a figurative or literal sense), to annul or render plans ineffective (metaphorically)

Root / Etymology

Root: הרס. The core meaning of the root is 'to break down.' The verb הָרַס is the primary verbal form deriving directly from the root, and it carries the explicit sense of active, deliberate destruction or dismantling, especially of constructed objects.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הָרַס is attested throughout biblical Hebrew, especially in contexts regarding buildings, city walls, or ritual objects—often in conquest, judgment, or ritual reform narratives. Its semantic field is distinct from שָׁבַר (to break, often into pieces or of objects generally), and from חָרַב (to make desolate or dry, often with a focus on devastation or wilderness). Unlike terms meaning 'to ruin' by neglect or decay (e.g., שָׁמֵם), הָרַס nearly always refers to an agent's deliberate act of dismantling or destroying. During the monarchic and exilic periods, it is frequently used of the destruction of city fortifications or sanctuaries. In later biblical literature, it can also refer metaphorically to the annulment or frustration of evil plans (e.g., Job, Psalms), though the core sense of active force remains. English translations as 'destroy' or 'break down' may miss the nuance of deliberate demolition, especially where cultic reforms or military activity are involved. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root continues with similar senses, but also may broaden to non-material domains.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy; beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הרס (h-r-s) — break down, pull down, demolish

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2034 הֲרִיסָה and his demolitions
H2035 הֲרִיסוּת your devastation
H2041 הֶרֶס the ruin-heap

Word Forms

30 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2040-03 הָרָ֑ס haras HVqp3ms break he demolished 4
H2040-20 וְ/הָרְס֤וּ veharesu HC/Vqq3cp and-they-will-break-down and they demolished 3
H2040-01 אֶהֱרֹ֔ס eheros HVqi1cs I-will-overthrow I will tear down 3
H2040-21 וְ/לַ/הֲר֑וֹס velaharos HC/R/Vqc and to overthrow and to demolish 2
H2040-30 יֶהֶרְס֤וּ yeheresu HVqi3mp break through they will tear down 2
H2040-10 נֶהֶרְס֖וּ neheresu HVNp3cp are broken down they were demolished 2
H2040-04 הָרָ֔סוּ harasu HVqp3cp have torn down they demolished 2
H2040-22 וְ/נֶהֶרְס֖וּ veneheresu HC/VNq3cp and the mountains shall be thrown down and they were demolished 2
H2040-18 וְ/הָ֨רַסְתִּ֜י veharaseti HC/Vqq1cs and I will demolish and I demolished 2
H2040-07 הֹרֵ֔ס hores HVqrmsa I am breaking down the one who demolishes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2040-11 Exodus 15:7 תַּהֲרֹ֣ס taharos HVqi2ms you overthrow you tear down
H2040-30 Exodus 19:21 יֶהֶרְס֤וּ yeheresu HVqi3mp they break through they will tear down
H2040-30 Exodus 19:24 יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ yeheresu HVqj3mp break through they will tear down
H2040-05 Exodus 23:24 הָרֵס֙ hares HVpa overthrow to utterly demolish
H2040-13 Exodus 23:24 תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔/ם teharesem HVpi2ms/Sp3mp you shall overthrow them you will demolish them
H2040-17 Judges 6:25 וְ/הָרַסְתָּ֗ veharaseta HC/Vqq2ms and tear down and you tore down
H2040-19 2 Samuel 11:25 וְ/הָרְסָ֖/הּ veharesah HC/Vqv2ms/Sp3fs and-destroy-it and demolish her
H2040-06 1 Kings 18:30 הֶ/הָרֽוּס heharus HTd/Vqsmsa that had been torn down demolished one
H2040-04 1 Kings 19:10 הָרָ֔סוּ harasu HVqp3cp have torn down they demolished
H2040-04 1 Kings 19:14 הָרָ֔סוּ harasu HVqp3cp they have torn down they demolished
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