חֵמָה
𐤇𐤌𐤄
chêmâh
H2534 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Intense heat or burning, both in a literal and figurative sense; most commonly used to denote fierce emotional states—especially rage, wrath, or intense anger. In specific contexts, can also refer metaphorically to venom or poison, highlighting the consuming or harmful aspect of anger. The term may carry the idea of a powerful internal force or outburst, capable of destruction or harm.
Semantic Range
heat, burning, fierce anger, wrath, rage, fury, indignation, poison, venom
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חם (ḥ-m), whose core meaning is 'to be hot, to heat, to become warm.' The noun חֵמָה is a feminine form indicating 'heat.' The development to figurative uses—of anger or wrath—arises from the common metaphorical link between rising heat and intense emotion. The root meaning ('to heat') is more literal and physical, while the lexical usage of חֵמָה typically points to emotional or metaphorical heat.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the earliest biblical texts, חֵמָה already appears predominantly in a figurative sense, describing a violent or consuming anger, whether divine or human. It is often paired with or contrasted to אַף (’af, 'nose, anger'), but חֵמָה stresses intensity and burning power, whereas אַף, which literally means 'nose,' emphasizes the outward display (such as flaring nostrils). In some Psalms and prophetic books, חֵמָה describes the wrath of YHWH, depicting divine judgment as a burning force. The use of חֵמָה for 'venom' or 'poison' (e.g., Deut 32:24) highlights the destructive, consuming aspect of wrath. In late biblical Hebrew (e.g., Daniel), the spelling may appear as חֵמָא (Aramaic influence), but the meaning remains consistent. English translations often render חֵמָה as 'wrath,' 'rage,' 'fury,' or 'fierce anger,' but may underemphasize the sense of internal, burning intensity. The word never refers to calm displeasure; it always signals a forceful, sometimes beyond-control response. The translation 'bottles' (KJV) in Job 32:19 refers metaphorically to the concept of internal pressure (a 'bottle' about to burst), not to a physical vessel. Contrast with חֶמְאָה (ḥem'ah, 'curd'), which is unrelated.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (Daniel 11:44) חֵמָא; from יָחַם; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See חֶמְאָה.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חם (ḥ-m) — to be hot, heat up, become warm
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2525 | חָם | Ham |
| H2526 | חָם | Ham |
| H2529 | חֶמְאָה | in burning heat |
| H2535 | חַמָּה | radiant heat |
| H2545 | חֲמוֹת | her mother-in-law |
Word Forms
26 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2534-10 |
חֲמָתִ/י֙ | chamati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my wrath | my burning-heat | 26 |
H2534-12 |
חֵמָ֖ה | chemah | HNcfsa |
wrath | burning heat | 21 |
H2534-07 |
חֲמַ֥ת | chamat | HNcfsc |
fury | burning heat of | 19 |
H2534-11 |
חֲמָת֑/וֹ | chamato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his wrath | his burning-heat | 6 |
H2534-09 |
חֲמָתְ/ךָ֗ | chamatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your wrath | your burning rage | 6 |
H2534-19 |
וּ/בְ/חֵמָ֖ה | uvechemah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and with fury | and in burning heat | 6 |
H2534-06 |
בְּ/חֵמָֽה | bechemah | HR/Ncfsa |
in-fury | in burning-heat | 5 |
H2534-24 |
וְ/חֵמָ֖ה | vechemah | HC/Ncfsa |
and fury | burning heat | 4 |
H2534-17 |
וּ/בַ/חֲמָתִ֖/י | uvachamati | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and in my fury | and in my burning-heat | 4 |
H2534-01 |
בַּ/חֲמַת | bachamat | HR/Ncfsc |
in fury | in heat-of | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
124 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2534-07 |
Genesis 27:44 | חֲמַ֥ת | chamat | HNcfsc |
fury | burning heat of |
H2534-01 |
Leviticus 26:28 | בַּ/חֲמַת | bachamat | HR/Ncfsc |
in fury | in heat-of |
H2534-10 |
Numbers 25:11 | חֲמָתִ/י֙ | chamati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my-wrath | my burning-heat |
H2534-25 |
Deuteronomy 9:19 | וְ/הַ֣/חֵמָ֔ה | vehachemah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the hot displeasure | and the burning-heat |
H2534-18 |
Deuteronomy 29:22 | וּ/בַ/חֲמָתֽ/וֹ | uvachamato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and in his wrath | and in his burning-fury |
H2534-19 |
Deuteronomy 29:27 | וּ/בְ/חֵמָ֖ה | uvechemah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-in-fury | and in burning heat |
H2534-07 |
Deuteronomy 32:24 | חֲמַ֖ת | chamat | HNcfsc |
the venom | burning heat of |
H2534-07 |
Deuteronomy 32:33 | חֲמַ֥ת | chamat | HNcfsc |
poison | burning heat of |
H2534-07 |
2 Samuel 11:20 | חֲמַ֣ת | chamat | HNcfsc |
wrath | burning heat of |
H2534-06 |
2 Kings 5:12 | בְּ/חֵמָֽה | bechemah | HR/Ncfsa |
in a rage | in burning-heat |