חָרִיף
𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤐
Charif
H2756 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'autumnal,' used as the name of two individuals or family heads in post-exilic biblical lists. Though the basic meaning refers to the autumn season, in biblical usage חָרִיף functions primarily as a proper noun.
Semantic Range
autumnal, relating to autumn, a proper name (of individuals or family heads), designation of a returning group after exile
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָרַף meaning 'to pluck, gather, harvest (especially in autumn); to reproach' in other stems, but here the meaning 'autumn' or 'autumnal' is primary for the formation of the name. The noun חָרִיף thus conveys the sense of 'pertaining to autumn' or 'of the autumn harvest.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָרִיף appears as a proper name for individuals or family groups returning from exile (Ezra 2:18; Nehemiah 7:24). These texts associate the name with post-exilic community records rather than narrative contexts. The translation 'Hariph' or 'Chariph' appears in English Bibles, but this simply transliterates the term. Later translations or traditions occasionally render this group as 'the sons of Hariph,' but this does not imply any institutional or broader ethnic significance beyond the immediate genealogical record. חָרִיף is sometimes confused with similar-sounding roots meaning 'to reproach' (cf. חָרַף), but no negative connotation is present in this proper name usage. While the name is connected to the season of autumn, its significance in the text is restricted to nomenclature, not to seasonal or agricultural concepts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרַף; autumnal; Chariph, the name of two Israelites; Hariph.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרף (ḥ-r-p̄) — pluck, harvest, reproach, be autumnal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2741 | חֲרוּפִי | the Charuphite |
| H2778 | חָרַף | in their taunting |
| H2779 | חֹרֶף | my harvest-season |
| H2780 | חָרֵף | Chareph |
| H2781 | חֶרְפָּה | in public disgrace |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2756-01 |
חָרִ֔יף | charif | HNp |
Hariph | Autumnal One | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2756-01 |
Nehemiah 7:24 | חָרִ֔יף | charif | HNp |
Hariph | Autumnal One |
H2756-01 |
Nehemiah 10:20 | חָרִ֥יף | charif | HNp |
Hariph | Autumnal One |