← H2780 H2782 →

חֶרְפָּה

𐤇𐤓𐤐𐤄

cherpâh

H2781 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

State or experience of public disgrace, insult, humiliation, or the condition of dishonor resulting from being subjected to verbal, social, or physical humiliation; also refers to the words or acts that cause such a state, encompassing both the objective experience of being shamed and the subjective sense of feeling disgraced. In certain extended or euphemistic contexts, the term can denote an object or source of shame, including, in rare idioms, the genitals as a metaphor for exposure or humiliation.

Semantic Range

disgrace, public dishonor, humiliation, reproach, verbal insult, scornful taunt, object or source of shame, euphemistic reference to genitals (in idiomatic use), state of being shamed

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root חרף (Ḥ-R-P), which primarily means 'to reproach, taunt, revile, insult.' חֶרְפָּה (cherpâh) is a feminine noun form derived from this root, concretizing the sense of an insult or act of reproach into a state, condition, or thing causing or representing shame or dishonor. The root meaning of חרף centers on sharpness or injury as applied to words, hence the semantic range of invective or derision.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֶרְפָּה appears throughout the Hebrew Bible to designate both spoken reproach and the resulting loss of standing or social honor—often in the context of national defeat or personal abuse (e.g., Israel suffering 'reproach' among other nations, or individuals suffering insult). In poetry and psalms, it is closely associated with motifs of humiliation and plea for divine vindication. Occasionally used in idiomatic expressions, such as 'uncovering nakedness,' where it is associated with shame due to exposure, which led to rare translations as 'pudenda.' English translations as 'reproach,' 'shame,' or 'disgrace' cover the main range, but may not always capture its social nuance or the agency involved (whether the reproach is experienced or instigated by others). The term is frequent in exilic and post-exilic literature, reflecting social concerns over status, exile, and national humiliation. Distinguished from related terms like קלון (qālôn, 'dishonor') in that חֶרְפָּה often focuses on dishonor that is public and has an external source (other people or nations), whereas קלון may connote more internal or inherent shame.

Translation Consistency

primary "shame" 44 occurrences

"Shame" is the most natural, broad English term to cover the SILEX range (public disgrace, humiliation, reproach, the thing that causes dishonor, or the felt experience). It works for both objective reproach/disgrace and the subjective feeling, and fits idiomatic/euphemistic uses. While "reproach" appears often in existing renderings, "shame" is more common and readable in contemporary English and best supports consistent translation across all forms.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"reproach" (3x) "disgrace" (1x) "public disgrace" (1x) "reproaches" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָרַף; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda; rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חרף (Charufi) — to reproach, to taunt, to be autumn (uncertain connections)

Root חרף to reproach, revile, insult
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2741 חֲרוּפִי the Charuphite
H2756 חָרִיף Autumnal One
H2780 חָרֵף Chareph

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2781-02 חֶרְפָּ֖ה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame 20
H2781-03 חֶרְפַּ֣ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of 11
H2781-11 לְ/חֶרְפָּ֖ה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa a reproach to disgrace to shame 7
H2781-08 חֶרְפָּתִ֜/י cherepati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my reproach my disgrace my shame 6
H2781-13 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּ֔ה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and a reproach and to reproach-disgrace and to shame 5
H2781-04 חֶרְפָּתָ֑/ם cherepatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their reproach their disgrace their reproach 4
H2781-16 וְ/חֶרְפַּ֥ת vecherepat HC/Ncfsc and the reproach and reproach-shame of and shame of 4
H2781-01 בְּ֭/חֶרְפָּה becherepah HR/Ncfsa with reproach in public disgrace in public shame 2
H2781-07 חֶרְפָּתֵֽ/נוּ cherepatenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our reproach our disgrace our shame 2
H2781-09 חֶרְפָּת/וֹ֙ cherepato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his reproach his disgrace his disgrace 2

Occurrences in Scripture

73 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2781-08 Genesis 30:23 חֶרְפָּתִֽ/י cherepati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my reproach my disgrace my shame
H2781-02 Genesis 34:14 חֶרְפָּ֥ה cherepah HNcfsa a disgrace public disgrace public shame
H2781-03 Joshua 5:9 חֶרְפַּ֥ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-02 1 Samuel 11:2 חֶרְפָּ֖ה cherepah HNcfsa for a reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-02 1 Samuel 17:26 חֶרְפָּ֖ה cherepah HNcfsa the reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-08 1 Samuel 25:39 חֶרְפָּתִ֜/י cherepati HNcfsc/Sp1cs of my reproach my disgrace my shame
H2781-08 2 Samuel 13:13 חֶרְפָּתִ֔/י cherepati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my shame my disgrace my shame
H2781-07 Isaiah 4:1 חֶרְפָּתֵֽ/נוּ cherepatenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our reproach our disgrace our shame
H2781-16 Isaiah 25:8 וְ/חֶרְפַּ֣ת vecherepat HC/Ncfsc and the reproach and reproach-shame of and shame of
H2781-11 Isaiah 30:5 לְ/חֶרְפָּֽה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa for reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-06 Isaiah 47:3 חֶרְפָּתֵ֑/ךְ cherepatekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your shame your disgrace your shame
H2781-03 Isaiah 51:7 חֶרְפַּ֣ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-16 Isaiah 54:4 וְ/חֶרְפַּ֥ת vecherepat HC/Ncfsc and the reproach and reproach-shame of and shame of
H2781-11 Jeremiah 6:10 לְ/חֶרְפָּ֖ה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa a reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-02 Jeremiah 15:15 חֶרְפָּֽה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-11 Jeremiah 20:8 לְ/חֶרְפָּ֥ה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa a reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-03 Jeremiah 23:40 חֶרְפַּ֣ת cherepat HNcfsc reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-11 Jeremiah 24:9 לְ/חֶרְפָּ֤ה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa for-reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-13 Jeremiah 29:18 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּ֔ה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and-for-a-reproach and to reproach-disgrace and to shame
H2781-03 Jeremiah 31:19 חֶרְפַּ֥ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-13 Jeremiah 42:18 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּ֔ה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and for a reproach and to reproach-disgrace and to shame
H2781-13 Jeremiah 44:8 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּ֔ה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and a reproach and to reproach-disgrace and a reproach
H2781-13 Jeremiah 44:12 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּֽה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and-for-reproach and to reproach-disgrace and to shame
H2781-11 Jeremiah 49:13 לְ/חֶרְפָּ֛ה lecherepah HR/Ncfsa to-a-reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-02 Jeremiah 51:51 חֶרְפָּ֔ה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-13 Ezekiel 5:14 וּ/לְ/חֶרְפָּ֔ה ulecherepah HC/R/Ncfsa and a reproach and to reproach-disgrace and a reproach
H2781-02 Ezekiel 5:15 חֶרְפָּ֤ה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-03 Ezekiel 16:57 חֶרְפַּ֣ת cherepat HNcfsc of reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-04 Ezekiel 21:33 חֶרְפָּתָ֑/ם cherepatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their-reproach their disgrace their shame
H2781-02 Ezekiel 22:4 חֶרְפָּה֙ cherepah HNcfsa a reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-16 Ezekiel 36:15 וְ/חֶרְפַּ֥ת vecherepat HC/Ncfsc and-reproach and reproach-shame of and shame of
H2781-03 Ezekiel 36:30 חֶרְפַּ֥ת cherepat HNcfsc disgrace reproach of shame of
H2781-17 Hosea 12:15 וְ/חֶ֨רְפָּת֔/וֹ vecherepato HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his reproach and his disgrace and his disgrace
H2781-11 Joel 2:17 לְ/חֶרְפָּה֙ lecherepah HR/Ncfsa to reproach to disgrace to shame
H2781-02 Joel 2:19 חֶרְפָּ֖ה cherepah HNcfsa a-reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-16 Micah 6:16 וְ/חֶרְפַּ֥ת vecherepat HC/Ncfsc and reproach and reproach-shame of and shame of
H2781-03 Zephaniah 2:8 חֶרְפַּ֣ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-02 Zephaniah 3:18 חֶרְפָּֽה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-15 Psalms 15:3 וְ֝/חֶרְפָּ֗ה vecherepah HC/Ncfsa nor reproach public disgrace and public disgrace
H2781-03 Psalms 22:7 חֶרְפַּ֥ת cherepat HNcfsc a reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-02 Psalms 31:12 חֶרְפָּ֡ה cherepah HNcfsa a reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-03 Psalms 39:9 חֶרְפַּ֥ת cherepat HNcfsc the reproach reproach of shame of
H2781-02 Psalms 44:14 חֶ֭רְפָּה cherepah HNcfsa a-reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-02 Psalms 69:8 חֶרְפָּ֑ה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-18 Psalms 69:10 וְ/חֶרְפּ֥וֹת vecherepot HC/Ncfpc and reproaches and reproaches and reproaches
H2781-10 Psalms 69:11 לַ/חֲרָפ֣וֹת lacharafot HR/Ncfpa for reproaches for reproaches for shaming
H2781-08 Psalms 69:20 חֶרְפָּתִ֣/י cherepati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my reproach my disgrace my shame
H2781-02 Psalms 69:21 חֶרְפָּ֤ה cherepah HNcfsa reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-02 Psalms 71:13 חֶ֭רְפָּה cherepah HNcfsa with reproach public disgrace public shame
H2781-05 Psalms 74:22 חֶרְפָּתְ/ךָ֥ cherepatekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms your reproach your disgrace your reproach
← H2780 Hebrew Lexicon H2782 →