2717. charab
Berean Strong's Lexicon
charab: To be dry, to be desolate, to lay waste, to destroy

Original Word: חָרַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charab
Pronunciation: khaw-rab'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rab')
Definition: To be dry, to be desolate, to lay waste, to destroy
Meaning: to parch, to desolate, destroy, kill

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint for "charab" is ἐρημόω (erēmoō), which also means to lay waste or make desolate.

Usage: The Hebrew verb "charab" primarily conveys the idea of dryness or desolation. It is often used in the context of land becoming dry or desolate, cities being laid waste, or destruction occurring. The term can describe both physical desolation, such as a drought-stricken land, and metaphorical desolation, such as spiritual barrenness or judgment.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, the concept of desolation was significant due to the region's reliance on agriculture and water sources. A land becoming "charab" could mean famine, economic hardship, and divine judgment. The Israelites understood desolation as a consequence of turning away from God, often depicted in prophetic literature as a warning of impending judgment if the people did not repent.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [חָרֵב] verb be dry, dried up (compare יָבֵשׁ) (Aramaic חֲרוֺב be dry, חוּרְבָּא drought); —

Qal Perfect3plural חָֽרְבוּ Genesis 8:13 (twice in verse), Isaiah 19:6; Imperfect3masculine singular יֶחֱרַב Hosea 13:15 2t., וַיֶּחֱרָ֑ב Psalm 106:9; Imperative feminine singular חֳרָ֑בִי Isaiah 44:27; — be dry, dried up:

1 of ground, be freed from waters of flood מְּנֵי חָאֲדָמָה ׳ח Genesis 8:13b (J).

2 of waters, be dried up, taken away; of waters of flood Genesis 8:13 a (P); of Nile וְנָהָר יֶחֱרַב וְיָבֵשׁ Isaiah 19:5 ("" וְנִשְּׁתוּמַֿיִם מֵהַיָּם), see same combination Job 14:11 ("" אָֽזְלו מַיִם מִנִּייָֿם); Isaiah 19:6 ("" דָּֽלֲלוּ) Isaiah 44:27 ("" הוֺבִישׁ); of Red Sea Psalm 106:9; figurative of Ephraim's freshness and vigour Hosea 13:15.

Pu`al Perfect3plural לֹא חֹרָ֑בוּ Judges 16:7,8, of fresh bow-strings (of gut, see Bla).

Hiph`il Perfect הֶחֱרִיב Nahum 1:4, of ׳י's drying up rivers ("" וַיַּבְּשֵׁהוּ), perhaps also Isaiah 11:15 (for ᵑ0 החרים) see ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7; וְהַחֲרַבְתִּ֫י the Euphrates Jeremiah 51:36 ("" הוֺבַשְׁתִּי); Imperfect אַחֲרִיב יָם Isaiah 50:2, subject ׳י, I dry up a sea ("" אָשִׂים נְהָרוֺת מִדְבָּר); אַחְרִב Isaiah 37:25 = אַחֲרִב 2 Kings 19:24, of king of Assyria drying up rivers of Egypt; Participle feminine singular הַמַּחֲרֶבֶת Isaiah 51:10 of ׳י's arm drying up (Red) Sea.

II. [חָרֵב] be waste, desolate (Late Hebrew חָרֵב id.; Aramaic חֲרוֺב be laid waste; Zinjirli חרב adjective; Arabic be in ruins, waste, depopulated; Assyrian —arâbu, be waste, DlPr 175, —uribtu, desert, LotzTP); —

Qal Imperfect3feminine singular תֶּחֱרַ֔ב Jeremiah 26:9, תֶּחֱרָ֔ב Isaiah 34:10; 3masculine plural יֶחֶרְבוּ Ezekiel 6:6, יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ Amos 7:9; Isaiah 60:12; 3feminine plural תֶּחֱרַבְנָה Ezekiel 6:6; Ezekiel 12:20; Imperative חָרְבוּ (so, not חָֽרְבוּ — Theile — see van d. H Hahn Köi. 244) Jeremiah 2:12; Infinitive absolute חָרֹב Isaiah 60:12; — be waste, desolate; of sanctuaries of Israel Amos 7:9 ("" נָשַׁמּוּ), of altars Ezekiel 6:6; of cities Jeremiah 26:9; Ezekiel 6:6; Ezekiel 12:20 ("" שׁמם); of nations Isaiah 34:10, חָרֹב יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ Isaiah 60:12 ("" יאֹבֵדוּ); figurative, in address to the heavens חָרְבוּ מְאֹד Jeremiah 2:12 — ("" שֹׁמּוּ, וְשַׂעֲרוּ), be very desolate (at sins of Israel); others, be amazed, astounded (on relation of meanings see שׁמם).

Niph`al Participle feminine נֶחֱרֶבֶת Ezekiel 26:19 as adjective, desolate city, i.e. uninhabited, see context; נַחֲרָבוֺת Ezekiel 30:17 of desolate countries ("" נָשַׁמּוּ).

Hiph`il Perfect הֶחֱרִיב Ezekiel 19:17; 1singular הֶחֱרַבְתִּי Zephaniah 3:6; 3plural הֶחֱרִיבוּ Isaiah 37:18; 2 Kings 19:17; Imperfect1singular אַחֲרִיב Isaiah 42:15; Participle מַחֲרִיב Judges 16:24; plural with suffix מַחֲרִיבַיִךְ Isaiah 49:17; — lay waste, make desolate, human subject; nations and lands Isaiah 37:18 = 2 Kings 19:17; Isaiah 42:15, compare participle Isaiah 49:17 ("" מְהָֽרְסַיִךְ); add probably with We Amos 4:9 (הֶחֱרַבְתִּי for the untranslateable הַרְבּוֺת) I have devastated your gardens and vineyards; participle Judges 16:24 desolater of our country ("" הִרְבָּה אֶתחֲֿלָלֵנ֑וּ); object cities Ezekiel 19:7; streets Zephaniah 3:6 ("" נָשַׁמּוּ).

Hoph`al Perfect3feminine singular הָחֳרָ֑בָה Ezekiel 26:2 she is laid waste, of a city; Participle מָחֳרָבוֺת Ezekiel 29:12 laid waste, of cities ("" שׁמם).

III. [חָרַב] verb (Aramaic and rare) attack, smite down (compare Arabic plunder, III. wage war with, VI. fight together, war, battle; Syriac smite, slay) —

Qal Imperative masculine singular חֲרֹב Jeremiah 50:21 attack (+ וְהַחֲרֵם אַחֲרֵיהֶם); masculine plural חִרְבוּ Jeremiah 50:27 object כָּלמָּֿרֶיהָ, figurative of men of Babylon.

Niph`al Perfect3plural נֶחֶרְבוּ המלכים (see

Hoph`al) הָחֳרֵב 2 Kings 3:23 the kings have attacked one another, fought together ("" וַיַּכּוּ אִישׁ אֶתרֵֿעֵהוּ).

Hoph`al Infinitive absolute 2 Kings 3:23, see

Niph`al, but read perhaps הֵחָרֵב, compare Dr Leviticus 19:20, note.

[חֲרַב] verb be waste (see Biblical Hebrew II. חרב); —

Hoph`al Perfect הָחָרְבַ֑ת Ezra 4:15 city was laid waste.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
decay, be desolate, destroyer, be dry up, slay, surely, lay, lie,

Or chareb {khaw-rabe'}; a primitive root; to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill -- decay, (be) desolate, destroy(-er), (be) dry (up), slay, X surely, (lay, lie, make) waste.

Forms and Transliterations
אַחֲרִ֣יב אַחֲרִ֤יב אחריב הֶֽחֱרִ֑יב הֶחֱרִ֑יב הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי הַמַּחֲרֶ֣בֶת הָחֳרֵ֤ב הָחֳרָֽבָה׃ החרב החרבה׃ החרבתי החריב החריבו המחרבת וְאַחְרִב֙ וְהַחֲרַבְתִּי֙ וְחָרְב֖וּ וְיֶחֱרַ֣ב וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וּמַחֲרִבַ֖יִךְ ואחרב והחרבתי וחרבו ויחרב ומחרביך חֲרֵבָ֔ה חֲרֹ֨ב חֳרָ֑בִי חִרְבוּ֙ חָֽרְב֖וּ חָֽרְב֥וּ חָרְב֥וּ חָרֹ֥ב חֹרָ֑בוּ חרב חרבה חרבו חרבי יֶחֱרַ֥ב יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ יֶחֱרָֽבוּ׃ יֶחֶרְב֨וּ יחרב יחרבו יחרבו׃ מַחֲרִ֣יב מָֽחֳרָבוֹת֙ מחרבות מחריב נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙ נֶחֱרֶ֔בֶת נַחֲרָב֖וֹת נחרבו נחרבות נחרבת תֶּחֱרַ֔בְנָה תֶּחֱרַ֖ב תֶּחֱרָ֔ב תחרב תחרבנה ’a·ḥă·rîḇ ’aḥărîḇ achaRiv chareVah chareVu chaRo chirVu choRavi choRavu hā·ḥo·rā·ḇāh hā·ḥo·rêḇ ḥă·rê·ḇāh ḥā·rə·ḇū ḥă·rōḇ ḥā·rōḇ hāḥorāḇāh hāḥorêḇ ham·ma·ḥă·re·ḇeṯ hammachaRevet hammaḥăreḇeṯ ḥărêḇāh ḥārəḇū ḥărōḇ ḥārōḇ he·ḥĕ·raḇ·tî he·ḥĕ·rî·ḇū he·ḥĕ·rîḇ hecheRavti hecheRiv hecheRivu heḥĕraḇtî heḥĕrîḇ heḥĕrîḇū ḥir·ḇū ḥirḇū ḥo·rā·ḇî ḥō·rā·ḇū hochoRavah hochoRev ḥorāḇî ḥōrāḇū ma·ḥă·rîḇ mā·ḥo·rā·ḇō·wṯ machaRiv maḥărîḇ māḥorāḇōwṯ mochoraVot na·ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ nacharaVot naḥărāḇōwṯ ne·ḥĕ·re·ḇeṯ ne·ḥer·ḇū necheRevet necherVu neḥerḇū neḥĕreḇeṯ te·ḥĕ·raḇ te·ḥĕ·rāḇ te·ḥĕ·raḇ·nāh techeRav techeRavnah teḥĕraḇ teḥĕrāḇ teḥĕraḇnāh ū·ma·ḥă·ri·ḇa·yiḵ umachariVayich ūmaḥăriḇayiḵ vaiyecheRav veachRiv vechareVu vehacharavTi veyecheRav way·ye·ḥĕ·rāḇ wayyeḥĕrāḇ wə’aḥriḇ wə·’aḥ·riḇ wə·ha·ḥă·raḇ·tî wə·ḥā·rə·ḇū wə·ye·ḥĕ·raḇ wəhaḥăraḇtî wəḥārəḇū wəyeḥĕraḇ ye·ḥĕ·rā·ḇū ye·ḥĕ·raḇ ye·ḥer·ḇū yecheRav yecheRavu yecherVu yeḥĕraḇ yeḥĕrāḇū yeḥerḇū
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 8:13
HEB: בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ חָֽרְב֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֣ל
NAS: the water was dried up from the earth.
KJV: the waters were dried up from off the earth:
INT: the first of the month was dried the water from

Genesis 8:13
HEB: וַיַּ֕רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה חָֽרְב֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
NAS: of the ground was dried up.
KJV: of the ground was dry.
INT: and looked and behold was dried the surface of the ground

Judges 16:7
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־ חֹרָ֑בוּ וְחָלִ֥יתִי וְהָיִ֖יתִי
NAS: cords that have not been dried, then I will become weak
KJV: withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak,
INT: after have not been dried will become and be like

Judges 16:8
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־ חֹרָ֑בוּ וַתַּאַסְרֵ֖הוּ בָּהֶֽם׃
NAS: cords that had not been dried, and she bound
KJV: withs which had not been dried, and she bound
INT: after had not been dried bound

Judges 16:24
HEB: א֣וֹיְבֵ֔נוּ וְאֵת֙ מַחֲרִ֣יב אַרְצֵ֔נוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: into our hands, Even the destroyer of our country,
KJV: our enemy, and the destroyer of our country,
INT: our hands our enemy the destroyer of our country Who

2 Kings 3:23
HEB: דָּ֣ם זֶ֔ה הָחֳרֵ֤ב נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙ הַמְּלָכִ֔ים
NAS: the kings have surely fought together,
KJV: the kings are surely slain,
INT: is blood This have surely fought the kings

2 Kings 3:23
HEB: זֶ֔ה הָחֳרֵ֤ב נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙ הַמְּלָכִ֔ים וַיַּכּ֖וּ
NAS: have surely fought together, and they have slain
KJV: are surely slain, and they have smitten
INT: This have surely fought the kings have slain

2 Kings 19:17
HEB: אָמְנָ֖ם יְהוָ֑ה הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֛וּר
NAS: of Assyria have devastated the nations
KJV: of Assyria have destroyed the nations
INT: Truly LORD have devastated the kings of Assyria

2 Kings 19:24
HEB: מַ֣יִם זָרִ֑ים וְאַחְרִב֙ בְּכַף־ פְּעָמַ֔י
NAS: of my feet I dried up All
KJV: of my feet have I dried up all the rivers
INT: waters foreign dried the sole of my feet

Nehemiah 2:3
HEB: קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַי֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ אֻכְּל֥וּ
INT: tombs of my fathers' decay gates have been consumed

Nehemiah 2:17
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ נִצְּת֣וּ
INT: after Jerusalem decay gates burned

Job 14:11
HEB: יָ֑ם וְ֝נָהָ֗ר יֶחֱרַ֥ב וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
NAS: And a river becomes parched and dried
KJV: and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
INT: the sea river becomes and dried

Psalm 106:9
HEB: בְּיַם־ ס֭וּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת
NAS: Sea and it dried up, And He led
KJV: sea also, and it was dried up: so he led
INT: Sea the Red dried led the deeps

Isaiah 19:5
HEB: מֵֽהַיָּ֑ם וְנָהָ֖ר יֶחֱרַ֥ב וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
NAS: up, And the river will be parched and dry.
KJV: and the river shall be wasted and dried up.
INT: the sea and the river will be parched will dry

Isaiah 19:6
HEB: נְהָר֔וֹת דָּלֲל֥וּ וְחָרְב֖וּ יְאֹרֵ֣י מָצ֑וֹר
NAS: will thin out and dry up; The reeds
KJV: shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds
INT: the canals will thin and dry the streams of Egypt

Isaiah 34:10
HEB: מִדּ֤וֹר לָדוֹר֙ תֶּחֱרָ֔ב לְנֵ֣צַח נְצָחִ֔ים
NAS: to generation it will be desolate; None
KJV: to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through
INT: generation to generation will be desolate forever and ever

Isaiah 37:18
HEB: אָמְנָ֖ם יְהוָ֑ה הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֛וּר
NAS: of Assyria have devastated all
KJV: of Assyria have laid waste all the nations,
INT: Truly LORD have devastated the kings of Assyria

Isaiah 37:25
HEB: וְשָׁתִ֣יתִי מָ֑יִם וְאַחְרִב֙ בְּכַף־ פְּעָמַ֔י
NAS: of my feet I dried up All
KJV: of my feet have I dried up all the rivers
INT: and drank waters dried the sole of my feet

Isaiah 42:15
HEB: אַחֲרִ֤יב הָרִים֙ וּגְבָע֔וֹת
NAS: I will lay waste the mountains
KJV: I will make waste mountains and hills,
INT: will lay the mountains and hills

Isaiah 44:27
HEB: הָאֹמֵ֥ר לַצּוּלָ֖ה חֳרָ֑בִי וְנַהֲרֹתַ֖יִךְ אוֹבִֽישׁ׃
NAS: to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!' And I will make
KJV: to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up
INT: says to the depth be dried your rivers will make

Isaiah 49:17
HEB: בָּנָ֑יִךְ מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ וּמַחֲרִבַ֖יִךְ מִמֵּ֥ךְ יֵצֵֽאוּ׃
NAS: Your destroyers and devastators Will depart
KJV: thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth
INT: your builders your destroyers and devastators at will depart

Isaiah 50:2
HEB: הֵ֣ן בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י אַחֲרִ֣יב יָ֗ם אָשִׂ֤ים
NAS: Behold, I dry up the sea
KJV: behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea,
INT: behold my rebuke dry the sea make

Isaiah 51:10
HEB: אַתְּ־ הִיא֙ הַמַּחֲרֶ֣בֶת יָ֔ם מֵ֖י
NAS: Was it not You who dried up the sea,
KJV: [Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea,
INT: you who dried the sea the waters

Isaiah 60:12
HEB: יֹאבֵ֑דוּ וְהַגּוֹיִ֖ם חָרֹ֥ב יֶחֱרָֽבוּ׃
NAS: And the nations will be utterly ruined.
KJV: yea, [those] nations shall be utterly wasted.
INT: will perish and the nations will be utterly ruined

Isaiah 60:12
HEB: וְהַגּוֹיִ֖ם חָרֹ֥ב יֶחֱרָֽבוּ׃
NAS: will be utterly ruined.
KJV: shall be utterly wasted.
INT: and the nations will be utterly ruined

42 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2717
42 Occurrences


’a·ḥă·rîḇ — 2 Occ.
ḥă·rê·ḇāh — 2 Occ.
ḥā·rə·ḇū — 3 Occ.
ḥā·rōḇ — 2 Occ.
ḥir·ḇū — 1 Occ.
ḥo·rā·ḇî — 1 Occ.
ḥō·rā·ḇū — 2 Occ.
ham·ma·ḥă·re·ḇeṯ — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·raḇ·tî — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·rîḇ — 2 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·rî·ḇū — 2 Occ.
hā·ḥo·rā·ḇāh — 1 Occ.
hā·ḥo·rêḇ — 1 Occ.
ma·ḥă·rîḇ — 1 Occ.
mā·ḥo·rā·ḇō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
na·ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ne·ḥĕ·re·ḇeṯ — 1 Occ.
ne·ḥer·ḇū — 1 Occ.
te·ḥĕ·rāḇ — 2 Occ.
te·ḥĕ·raḇ·nāh — 2 Occ.
ū·ma·ḥă·ri·ḇa·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
way·ye·ḥĕ·rāḇ — 1 Occ.
wə·’aḥ·riḇ — 2 Occ.
wə·ḥā·rə·ḇū — 1 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·raḇ·tî — 1 Occ.
wə·ye·ḥĕ·raḇ — 1 Occ.
ye·ḥĕ·raḇ — 2 Occ.
ye·ḥĕ·rā·ḇū — 2 Occ.
ye·ḥer·ḇū — 1 Occ.
















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