חָרוּז
𐤇𐤓𐤅𐤆
chârûwz
H2737 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A pierced, drilled object; specifically, a bead, pearl, or gem with a perforation, often intended for stringing together, and by extension, a string or chain of such beads or jewels. In biblical usage, it denotes an ornament or adornment formed from a series of perforated gems or pearls, typically worn as jewelry.
Semantic Range
bead, pierced ornament, pearl, gem, jewel (for threading or stringing), string or chain of jewels, strand of beads
Root / Etymology
Root: חרז. The root חרז carries the core meaning of 'to string, thread through, perforate by piercing,' though it does not appear in biblical Hebrew as a verb. The noun חָרוּז derives from this root and refers to an object pierced for threading, i.e., a bead or ornament.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָרוּז appears only in poetic or late biblical passages, notably in Song of Songs 1:10, where it describes ornamental jewelry ('rows of jewels/beads'). The context suggests an emphasis on the craftsmanship of perforating and stringing together precious stones for personal adornment. This term is distinct from other ornament words in Hebrew such as עֲדִי (adornment) or נֶזֶם (nose ring, earring), focusing specifically on the pierced nature of the object and its use as part of a string or chain. In translation traditions, חָרוּז has been variously rendered as 'chain,' 'string of jewels,' or 'rows of ornaments,' none of which fully capture the specificity of beads or gems deliberately pierced and strung together. The concept of a 'bead' or 'strand of beads' is reliable contextually but only rarely documented elsewhere in biblical Hebrew, reflecting a possibly specialized or imported terminology related to luxury adornment in the First Temple period and beyond. The English word 'chain' may be misleading, as the primary sense is ornamental beads or gems threaded together.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to perforate; properly, pierced, i.e. a bead of pearl, gems or jewels (as strung); chain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרז (ḥ-r-z) — to string, to thread through, to pierce, to perforate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2737-01 |
בַּ/חֲרוּזִֽים | bacharuzim | HRd/Ncmpa |
with strings of jewels | with the strung-beads | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2737-01 |
Song of Songs 1:10 | בַּ/חֲרוּזִֽים | bacharuzim | HRd/Ncmpa |
with strings of jewels | with the strung-beads |