Lexical Summary chere: Burning, anger, heat Original Word: חֶרֶא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance excrement, dungFrom an unused (and vulgar) root probably meaning to evacuate the bowels: excrement; -dung. Also chariy {khar-ee'}. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition dung NASB Translation dung (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חֶרֶא, or חֲרִי] noun [masculine] dung (Late Hebrew חרא (י_), id.; Aramaic  id.; Mandean חרא (on this and cognate languages in General see NöM 56); Arabic  id., whence verb  of act, and noun  of place; Amharic  (DiLex. Aeth. 88)) — plural suffix חַרְאֵיהֶם Isaiah 36:12 Kt (Qr צוֺאָתָם); "" 2 Kings 18:27 has חֲרִיהֶם (see singular חרי 2 Kings 6:25; Qr as above); חֲרִי יוֺנִים dove's dung 2 Kings 6:25 Kt (Qr דִּבִיוֺנִים); see, further, GeiUrschrift, 409. Topical Lexicon Biblical ContextIn Isaiah 36:12 חֶרֶא is spoken by the Rabshakeh, emissary of Sennacherib, as he threatens Jerusalem during Assyria’s siege. He taunts that the people will “eat their own excrement and drink their own urine” (Isaiah 36:12), a graphic prediction of starvation, ritual defilement, and utter humiliation if they resist Assyrian rule. Symbolism and Theological Significance 1. Ceremonial Uncleanness Torah sanitation laws place human waste outside the community (Deuteronomy 23:12-14). The Rabshakeh’s image thrusts Jerusalem into a state of unavoidable impurity, highlighting the spiritual stakes of the conflict. 2. Covenant Curse Language Famine and siege are listed among the judgments for covenant breach (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57). The threat of consuming excrement stands within that framework, accentuating what apostasy could invite and what divine mercy would spare. 3. Worthlessness and Contempt Dung commonly symbolizes what is despised (Malachi 2:3; Philippians 3:8). By invoking it, the Rabshakeh declares the Jews powerless, intending to make them view themselves as refuse—a tactic that contrasts sharply with their true status as God’s covenant people. Historical Setting The year is 701 B.C. Assyria’s armies have devastated Judah’s outlying cities. Psychological warfare was integral to Assyrian strategy; thus the Rabshakeh speaks loudly in Judean so the populace hears. Isaiah records the speech to display both the blasphemy of human pride and the providence that soon topples it (Isaiah 37:36-38). The identical incident in 2 Kings 18 corroborates the event. Ministry and Pastoral Applications • Spiritual Resistance: Like Hezekiah, believers should spread threatening letters before the LORD (Isaiah 37:14-20), countering intimidation with prayer and trust. Related Biblical Imagery Deuteronomy 23:12-14 – waste kept outside the camp underscores God’s holiness. 2 Kings 6:25-29 – siege-induced desperation foreshadows such threats. Lamentations 4:4-10 – later fulfillment of siege horrors when Judah disregards prophetic warnings. Philippians 3:8 – Paul counts worldly gains as “dung,” recasting the image to express devotion to Christ. Christological Reflection The Messiah willingly endured the world’s scorn, bearing sin’s uncleanness “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:12-13) and turning shame into glory through resurrection. In Him, even the most degrading threats lose their power, for He “cleansed us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Summary Though appearing only once, חֶרֶא amplifies a pivotal confrontation between arrogant empire and the living God. Its crude realism magnifies the peril of unbelief, the certainty of divine rescue, and the gospel promise that no defilement—literal or spiritual—can withstand the cleansing grace of God. Forms and Transliterations צֹואָתָ֗ם צואתם ṣō·w·’ā·ṯām ṣōw’āṯām tzoaTamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 36:12 HEB: [חַרְאֵיהֶם כ] (צֹואָתָ֗ם ק) וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת NAS: [doomed] to eat their own dung and drink KJV: that they may eat their own dung, and drink INT: the wall eat dung and drink waste 1 Occurrence |
    |