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חָשַׁשׁ

𐤇𐤔𐤔

châshash

H2842 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חשׁשׁ to be dry, to become brittle, to crumble

Definition

Dry and withered plant material, specifically parched grass, stubble, or dried stems; frequently used to denote fragile, easily consumed vegetation in agricultural contexts. The word conveys the sense of grass or stalks dried by heat or neglect, sometimes extending to mean 'stubble' or 'fodder' in the context of what is gathered for burning or as refuse.

Semantic Range

dry grass, withered grass, stubble, dried stems, fodder, refuse, something brittle or crumbling

Root / Etymology

Likely derives from the root ח-שׁ-שׁ (חשׁשׁ), which is associated with the notion of being dry, parched, or brittle. There is some lexical overlap with the root ק-שׁ (קשׁ), which also carries the sense of straw or stubble. The formation is a nominal derivation from the root meaning 'to be dry, to become brittle or fragile, to crumble.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָשַׁשׁ is a rare term, occurring primarily in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms and Isaiah). It differs from the more common קַשׁ (qash, 'straw, chaff'), though the two are occasionally considered variations or poetic synonyms. In ancient Israelite society, dried grass and stubble had practical significance as seasonal fodder, fuel, or as metaphors for transience, frailty, or something easily destroyed by fire (cf. Isa 5:24; Isa 33:11). English translations often render חָשַׁשׁ as 'chaff,' 'stubble,' or 'dry grass,' but these may not fully capture its reference to grass withered by drought or heat. Unlike קַשׁ, which is more strictly 'straw' (the remaining stalk after threshing grain), חָשַׁשׁ refers more broadly to the totality of dried-up, dead plant remnants.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by variation for קַשׁ; dry grass; chaff.

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Root Family

חשש (ḥ-š-š) — to be dry, to become brittle, to crumble

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2842-01 חֲשַׁ֖שׁ chashash HNcmsa chaff parched stubble parched stubble 1
H2842-02 וַ/חֲשַׁ֤שׁ vachashash HC/Ncmsa and dry grass parched stubble parched stubble 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2842-02 Isaiah 5:24 וַ/חֲשַׁ֤שׁ vachashash HC/Ncmsa and dry grass parched stubble parched stubble
H2842-01 Isaiah 33:11 חֲשַׁ֖שׁ chashash HNcmsa chaff parched stubble parched stubble
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