חָרַשׁ
𐤇𐤓𐤔
chârash
H2790 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut, inscribe, or engrave (on stone, wood, or metal); to plow, to incise or form furrows in soil; (by extension) to fabricate or craft, particularly as an artisan or smith. In figurative use: to devise, plot, or plan (usually with negative connotations); to be silent or keep silent, especially in a deliberate or calculated manner; to be deaf (rare, possibly as a secondary development from 'not hearing' in the sense of silence). The semantic range covers both physical acts of craftsmanship and cultivation, as well as actions of secret planning, contrivance, or silence.
Semantic Range
to cut or engrave (on stone, wood, metal); to plow; to craft or fabricate; to devise, plot, or contrive; to be silent or keep silent; to be deaf
Root / Etymology
Root: חָרַשׁ (ḥ-r-sh). The core meaning of the root is 'to cut,' 'to incise,' or 'to scratch.' Words deriving from this root commonly refer to acts of engraving, plowing (as in cutting the earth), or working as an artisan. The sense of 'to be silent' or 'to keep silent' appears to arise from the idea of intentional restraint or holding back words, as if deliberately 'carved out' or withheld. The derivation of 'to be deaf' is secondary and may be based on association with silence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָרַשׁ appears throughout the Hebrew Bible in multiple contexts: (1) Most literally, it refers to plowing or turning the earth, reflecting early Israelite agrarian life (e.g., in Genesis 45:6, 1 Samuel 13:20-21). (2) In artisan contexts, it refers to engraving or crafting—applied to woodwork, metalwork, or stone—often for cultic or royal purposes (Exodus 35:35, 1 Kings 5:15 [5:29 MT]). (3) Figuratively, it can mean to devise or plot, typically with negative intent, especially in wisdom and prophetic literature (Psalm 7:15, Proverbs 3:29, Micah 2:1). (4) In certain contexts (esp. Job, Psalms), חָרַשׁ can mean 'to be silent' or 'hold one’s peace,' denoting deliberate or prudent restraint in speech (Job 4:8, 11:3). The use 'to be deaf' is rare (e.g., Psalm 28:1; cf. Hiphil form). Modern English translations sometimes narrow its meaning to 'plow' or 'engrave,' potentially missing the breadth of nuance in literary and figurative passages. Related nouns such as חָרָשׁ ('smith' or 'craftsman') and derivatives clarify the root's artisan connotations. No anachronistic terms such as 'Jew' occur in connection with this root, and its semantic range is consistent across pre-exilic and post-exilic texts, though later writings more commonly employ the figurative sense of devising plans or remaining silent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness); [idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרש (ḥ-r-sh) — cutting, engraving, plowing, crafting, devising, silence
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2758 | חָרִישׁ | ploughing season |
| H2759 | חֲרִישִׁי | sultry-still |
| H2776 | חֶרֶס | pottery shard |
| H2789 | חֶרֶשׂ | her pottery-shards |
| H2791 | חֶרֶשׁ | potters |
Word Forms
35 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2790-09 |
הַחֲרֵשׁ֩ | hacharesh | HVha |
Be quiet | to silence | 6 |
H2790-24 |
תֶּחֱרַ֪שׁ | techerash | HVqj2ms |
be silent | may you keep silent | 5 |
H2790-01 |
אַחֲרִ֖ישׁ | acharish | HVhi1cs |
I will be silent | I will silence | 5 |
H2790-05 |
חֹרֵ֔שׁ | choresh | HVqrmsa |
devises | the cutting-one | 4 |
H2790-29 |
וְ/הֶחֱרִ֥שׁ | vehecherish | HC/Vhp3ms |
and he is silent | and he silenced | 4 |
H2790-06 |
חֹ֣רְשֵׁי | choreshey | HVqrmpc |
who devise | cutting ones of | 4 |
H2790-34 |
יַחֲרֹ֥שׁ | yacharosh | HVqi3ms |
plow | he will cut/engrave | 4 |
H2790-32 |
יַחֲרִ֨ישׁ | yacharish | HVhi3ms |
he keeps silent | he will silence | 3 |
H2790-16 |
מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ | macharish | HVhrmsa |
in silence | one causing silence | 3 |
H2790-26 |
וַֽ/יַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ | vayacharishu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and they stopped | and they kept silent | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
72 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2790-16 |
Genesis 24:21 | מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ | macharish | HVhrmsa |
in silence | one causing silence |
H2790-29 |
Genesis 34:5 | וְ/הֶחֱרִ֥שׁ | vehecherish | HC/Vhp3ms |
and held his peace | and he silenced |
H2790-21 |
Exodus 14:14 | תַּחֲרִישֽׁוּ/ן | tacharishun | HVhi2mp/Sn |
shall-be-silent | you (m.pl.) will cause to be silent |
H2790-29 |
Numbers 30:5 | וְ/הֶחֱרִ֥ישׁ | vehecherish | HC/Vhq3ms |
and he is silent | and he silenced |
H2790-29 |
Numbers 30:8 | וְ/הֶחֱרִ֣ישׁ | vehecherish | HC/Vhq3ms |
and he is silent | and he silenced |
H2790-29 |
Numbers 30:12 | וְ/הֶחֱרִ֣שׁ | vehecherish | HC/Vhq3ms |
and-he-is-silent | and he silenced |
H2790-09 |
Numbers 30:15 | הַחֲרֵשׁ֩ | hacharesh | HVha |
he surely keeps silent | to silence |
H2790-32 |
Numbers 30:15 | יַחֲרִ֨ישׁ | yacharish | HVhi3ms |
he keeps silent | he will silence |
H2790-14 |
Numbers 30:15 | הֶחֱרִ֥שׁ | hecherish | HVhp3ms |
he kept silent | he made silent |
H2790-22 |
Deuteronomy 22:10 | תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ | tacharosh | HVqi2ms |
you shall plow | you will cut/plot |