2718. charab
Lexical Summary
charab: To be dry, to be desolate, to lay waste

Original Word: חֲרַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charab
Pronunciation: khaw-rab'
Phonetic Spelling: (khar-ab')
KJV: destroy
NASB: laid waste
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) a root corresponding to H2717 (חָרַב חָרֵב - To be dry)]

1. to demolish

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
destroy

(Aramaic) a root corresponding to charab; to demolish -- destroy.

see HEBREW charab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) a root corresponding to chareb
Definition
to be a waste
NASB Translation
laid waste (1).

Topical Lexicon
Root and Semantic Range

The term חֲרַב (Strong’s 2718) belongs to a linguistic family that conveys ruin or devastation. While its verbal counterpart often describes laying waste to land or lives, the noun in Ezra 4:15 focuses on the concrete effect—“harm” or “damage”—that turmoil brings upon rulers and regions.

Biblical Occurrence

Ezra 4:15 is the sole canonical appearance:

“…this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces; it has been a place of sedition from ancient times, which is why this city was destroyed” (Berean Standard Bible).

Here, חֲרַב labels Jerusalem as a source of political injury. The accusers charge that the city’s history of uprising has repeatedly inflicted “harm” on imperial interests.

Historical Context of Ezra 4:15

1. Political Climate: Persian policy typically encouraged subject peoples to rebuild local temples, yet regional opponents feared the resurgence of Jewish autonomy.
2. Legal Strategy: By framing Jerusalem as “harmful,” the petitioners appealed to the king’s duty to protect imperial stability. They cited archival precedent to imply that permitting construction would threaten future tax revenue and security.
3. Irony of Accusation: The very city called “harmful” was the locus of God’s redemptive plan; its devastations (2 Kings 25; Lamentations 2) served divine discipline, yet its restoration fulfilled prophetic promise (Isaiah 52:9).

Theological Themes

• Human Opposition to Divine Purposes: חֲרַב illustrates how worldly powers reinterpret God’s covenant community as a public menace (John 11:48).
• Divine Sovereignty over Ruin and Restoration: While enemies highlight past devastation to halt progress, Scripture portrays the same ruin as a step in God’s redemptive timeline (Jeremiah 29:10–14).
• Reputation and Witness: The charge of “harm” challenges believers to live in such a way that accusations prove groundless (1 Peter 2:12), even when historical misunderstandings persist.

Intertextual Connections

Although 2718 occurs only once, related verbs and nouns broaden its theological weight:
Leviticus 26:33; Isaiah 49:19 – lands left “desolate” after covenant breach.
Psalm 74:3 – adversaries “laid waste” the sanctuary.

These passages frame devastation not merely as political loss but as spiritual consequence, reinforcing Ezra’s portrayal of ruin and recovery.

Ministry Implications

1. Apologetic Readiness: Modern believers may face similar mischaracterizations. Ezra 4 teaches researching history, engaging authorities respectfully, and trusting God’s timing.
2. Prayer for City and Nation: Intercession seeks the welfare of earthly authorities even when they misconstrue the church’s intentions (Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1–2).
3. Perseverance in Mission: God’s people press on with rebuilding—literal or spiritual—despite accusations of causing “harm” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Christological and Eschatological Considerations

Jerusalem’s pattern—destruction, reproach, and ultimate vindication—foreshadows the Messiah, rejected as “harmful” (Luke 23:2) yet vindicated in resurrection. The term חֲרַב thus points forward to the day when the “Holy City, New Jerusalem” descends without possibility of ruin (Revelation 21:2, 27), forever silencing every charge of harm against God’s redeemed community.

Forms and Transliterations
הָֽחָרְבַֽת׃ החרבת׃ hā·ḥā·rə·ḇaṯ HachareVat hāḥārəḇaṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:15
HEB: קִרְיְתָ֥א דָ֖ךְ הָֽחָרְבַֽת׃
NAS: therefore that city was laid waste.
KJV: cause was this city destroyed.
INT: city was this was laid

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2718
1 Occurrence


hā·ḥā·rə·ḇaṯ — 1 Occ.

2717c
Top of Page
Top of Page