חַשְׁמַל
𐤇𐤔𐤌𐤋
chashmal
H2830 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A luminous or radiant substance observed in the prophet Ezekiel's visions, characterized by its brilliance and dazzling appearance. In biblical context, it denotes an object or phenomenon with a metallic, glowing, or electric quality, not strictly identifiable with any known metal or mineral.
Semantic Range
radiant substance, glowing or luminous metal, electrified or fiery phenomenon (in Ezekiel's vision), later: angelic being or electricity (post-biblical and modern Hebrew)
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The root is unclear; some have attempted to connect it to compounds meaning 'silent speech' or to hypothesize an association with brightness or shining, but these are speculative and not supported by direct lexical evidence. The word appears to be a unique or rare term with no clear cognates in other Semitic languages or in later Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חַשְׁמַל (chashmal) occurs only in Ezekiel 1:4, 1:27, and 8:2, where it describes something seen in the visions of the divine chariot. The exact nature of the object is not specified in the text, but its radiant and fiery qualities are emphasized, suggesting a supernatural or unearthly substance rather than an ordinary mineral or alloy. In later rabbinic and medieval Jewish writings, the term takes on new meanings, sometimes as an angelic being or a term in mystical literature. In modern Hebrew, the word means 'electricity,' but this is a 19th-century adoption unrelated to the ancient context. English translations vary, often rendering חַשְׁמַל as 'amber,' 'electrum,' or leaving it untranslated as 'chashmal,' reflecting uncertainty. The LXX (Septuagint) translates the word as ἤλεκτρον ('electrum'), a natural alloy of gold and silver, probably reflecting the translators' attempt to capture the impression of a brilliant, glowing metal, not a precise identification. 'Amber' is used in some English versions due to the mineral's translucent, glowing appearance, but there is no lexical or archaeological evidence connecting חַשְׁמַל with amber in the ancient Near Eastern context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; probably bronze or polished spectrum metal; amber.
Bantu Hebrew
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חשמל (ḥ-š-m-l (uncertain)) — radiance, brilliance, luminous substance
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2830-01 |
חַשְׁמַ֗ל | chashemal | HNcmsa |
amber | radiant gleam-metal | 1 |
H2830-02 |
הַ/חַשְׁמַ֖ל | hachashemal | HTd/Ncmsa |
amber | the radiant substance | 1 |
H2830-03 |
הַ/חַשְׁמַֽלָ/ה | hachashemalah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sh |
of amber | the radiant substance | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2830-02 |
Ezekiel 1:4 | הַ/חַשְׁמַ֖ל | hachashemal | HTd/Ncmsa |
amber | the radiant substance |
H2830-01 |
Ezekiel 1:27 | חַשְׁמַ֗ל | chashemal | HNcmsa |
amber | radiant gleam-metal |
H2830-03 |
Ezekiel 8:2 | הַ/חַשְׁמַֽלָ/ה | hachashemalah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sh |
of amber | the radiant substance |