2345. chum

Lexicon

chum: Brown, dark, swarthy

Original Word: חוּם
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chuwm
Pronunciation: koom
Phonetic Spelling: (khoom)
Definition: Brown, dark, swarthy
Meaning: sunburnt, swarthy

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

brown

From an unused root meaning to be warm, i.e. (by implication) sunburnt or swarthy (blackish) -- brown.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
darkened, dark brown or black
NASB Translation
black (3), black ones (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חוּם adjective darkened, dark brown or black, only of colour of sheep (in Genesis 30, J); — וכלשֶֿׂהחֿוּם בכשׂבים Genesis 30:32, ׳וְחוּם בכ Genesis 30:33,35, וכלחֿוּם בְּצאֹן Genesis 30:40 (clause probably interpolated Ol Hup De We Di).

חוֺמָה see below חמה.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be warm or to heat.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3022 (λευκός, leukos): This Greek term means "white" or "bright," often used in the New Testament to describe purity or radiance, contrasting with darker tones.
• G4164 (ποικίλος, poikilos): This term means "varied" or "diverse," and while not directly related to skin tone, it can imply a range of appearances or characteristics, including complexion.

The entry for חוּם (chum) provides insight into the ancient Hebrew understanding of physical appearance and its implications within the cultural and social framework of the time. The corresponding Greek terms offer a contrast in the spectrum of descriptions related to color and appearance in biblical texts.

Usage: The word "chum" is used in the context of describing physical appearance, particularly in relation to skin tone that has been darkened by the sun.

Context: • The Hebrew word חוּם (chum) appears in the context of describing individuals with a darker complexion, often as a result of sun exposure. This term is used to convey the idea of being sunburnt or swarthy, which can be associated with labor or outdoor activity in the ancient Near Eastern context.
• In the Berean Standard Bible, the term is used to describe the appearance of individuals, emphasizing the natural effects of the sun on the skin. This description can be found in poetic or descriptive passages where physical appearance is noted.
• The cultural and historical context of the term suggests an understanding of beauty and labor, where a sunburnt complexion might indicate a life of work under the sun, contrasting with the paler skin of those who remain indoors.
• The use of "chum" in the Hebrew Bible reflects the broader Semitic understanding of skin tones and their implications in social and cultural settings.

Forms and Transliterations

וְחוּם֙ וחום ח֖וּם חוּם֙ חום chum ḥūm veChum wə·ḥūm wəḥūm

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 30:32
HEB: וְכָל־ שֶׂה־ חוּם֙ בַּכְּשָׂבִ֔ים וְטָל֥וּא
NAS: and every black one
KJV: cattle, and all the brown cattle
INT: and every one black the lambs and the spotted

Genesis 30:33
HEB: וְטָל֜וּא בָּֽעִזִּ֗ים וְחוּם֙ בַּכְּשָׂבִ֔ים גָּנ֥וּב
NAS: among the goats and black among the lambs,
KJV: among the goats, and brown among the sheep,
INT: and spotted the goats and black the lambs stolen

Genesis 30:35
HEB: בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־ ח֖וּם בַּכְּשָׂבִ֑ים וַיִּתֵּ֖ן
NAS: in it, and all the black ones among the sheep,
KJV: [and] every one that had [some] white in it, and all the brown among the sheep,
INT: white one the black the sheep and gave

Genesis 30:40
HEB: עָקֹ֛ד וְכָל־ ח֖וּם בְּצֹ֣אן לָבָ֑ן
NAS: and all the black in the flock
KJV: the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock
INT: the striped and all the black the flock of Laban

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2345
4 Occurrences

ḥūm — 3 Occ.
wə·ḥūm — 1 Occ.