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חַרְחַס

𐤇𐤓𐤇𐤎

Charechas

H2745 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ח־ר־ס to shine, to be bright, to bake (as in pottery)

Definition

Charchas (or Harhas), a personal name referring to a specific Israelite figure, possibly meaning 'shining.' The word functions solely as a proper noun within biblical texts, designating an individual in genealogical lists.

Semantic Range

a personal name; possibly derived sense of 'shining,' but attested only as a proper noun

Root / Etymology

From the same root as חֶרֶס (ḥeres), meaning 'sun' or 'pottery.' The root ח-ר-ס typically conveys ideas of shining, the sun, or baked clay. The precise reason for this personal name's form is unclear, but it likely draws from a sense of 'brightness' or 'shining' rather than the more common 'pottery.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חַרְחַס occurs only as a personal name within biblical texts and does not appear with independent lexical meaning outside of that context. Its use is confined to genealogical records (Nehemiah 3:11; 1 Chronicles 9:11, where the name appears as 'Harhas' in some English translations). The translation 'Harhas' or 'Charchas' reflects the uncertainty about vocalization and original pronunciation. Standard English translations vary, sometimes treating the initial consonant as guttural ('H') or more aspirated/ch sounds. The name likely belonged to an Israelite (not a Judahite or later Judean), situated in the context of the returnees from exile. The meaning 'shining' is possible but not certain, as most biblical onomastic traditions preserve such personal names from established root meanings. English renderings obscure the probable connotation inherent in the original Hebrew, which carried associations with light or brightness. There is no evidence that the term ever became a wider ethnonym or title beyond the proper name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as חֶרֶס; perhaps shining; Charchas, an Israelite; Harhas.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חרס (ḥ-r-s) — to shine, to be bright, to bake

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2775 חֶרֶס toward the sun
H2777 חַרְסוּת the Pottery-place

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2745-01 חַרְחַס֙ charechas HNp Harhas Shining-One 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2745-01 2 Kings 22:14 חַרְחַס֙ charechas HNp Harhas Shining-One
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