Lexical Summary chareb: Dry, desolate, waste Original Word: חָרֵב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance desolate, dry, waste From charab; parched or ruined -- desolate, dry, waste. see HEBREW charab Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [חָרֵב] adjective dry, only feminine singular חֲרֵבָה Leviticus 7:10 of meal-offering not moistened (with oil; P); מַּתֿ חֲרֵבָה Proverbs 17:1 a dry morsel. II. חָרֵב adjective waste, desolate; — masculine singular absolute ׳ח Jeremiah 33:10 3t.; feminine singular חֲרֵבָה Nehemiah 2:3 2t.; feminine plural הֶחֳרֵבוֺת Ezekiel 36:35,38 (see Köi. 241); — of a city, defined מֵאֵין אָדָם וּמֵאֵין בְּהֵמָה Jeremiah 33:10, compare Jeremiah 33:12; also Nehemiah 2:3,17; הֶעָרִים הֶחֳרֵבוֺת Ezekiel 36:35 (+ הַנְשַׁמּוֺת, הַנֶּהֱרָסוֺת; opposed to בְּצוּרוֺת יָשָׁב֑וּ). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Imageryחָרֵב portrays something dried up, wasted, or in ruins. The adjective draws its force from the verb “to be desolate” (Strong’s 2717), so even when it refers to a “dry” food, the nuance of withered barrenness is never far away. Scripture applies the term both to offerings that contain no oil or moisture and to places or conditions left empty by divine judgment. Occurrences and Settings 1. Leviticus 7:10 – the “dry” grain offering. 3–4. Jeremiah 33:10, 12 – the “desolate” streets of Jerusalem and towns of Judah. 5–6. Ezekiel 36:35, 38 – the “desolate” land and cities of Israel. 7–8. Haggai 1:4, 9 – the temple lying in “ruins.” Sacrificial Worship: Acceptance Even in Lack Leviticus 7:10 records that “every grain offering, whether mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, to all alike”. The verbals surrounding the meal-offering (minchah) stress that the LORD receives even what looks meager or withered. Worship is accepted not because of outward abundance but because of covenant obedience. Ministry application: believers may bring what seems paltry, provided it is offered in faith and accordance with divine instruction. Wisdom Insight: Peace over Plenty Proverbs 17:1 places the “dry” morsel beside family harmony: “Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife”. The proverb transforms חָרֵב into a metaphor for contentment. Better little with peace than lavish provision tied to conflict. The principle guides pastoral counseling and personal discipleship toward prioritizing character and relationships above material prosperity. Prophetic Usage: Desolation under Judgment Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Haggai employ חָרֵב to depict covenant curses realized in history. • Jeremiah 33:10–12 pictures Jerusalem’s streets as “deserted, inhabited by neither man nor beast.” Yet the same oracle promises voices of joy and pastures for shepherds once more. Theology of Ruin and Renewal 1. Covenant Faithfulness. חָרֵב signals judgment for breaking covenant stipulations (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) yet simultaneously sets the stage for renewed mercy. Ministry Implications • Addressing Spiritual Dryness. Pastors can use חָרֵב texts to diagnose seasons of barrenness and to prescribe repentance and renewed devotion. Summary חָרֵב is the language of barrenness that magnifies the LORD’s power to bring abundance. Whether referring to a simple, oil-less grain offering, the quiet contentment of a dry crust, or the devastated streets of Jerusalem, the term ultimately drives readers to depend on the God who turns wastelands into gardens and ruins into places of rejoicing. Forms and Transliterations הֶחֳרֵב֔וֹת הֶחֳרֵב֛וֹת הֶחָרֵ֛ב החרב החרבות וַחֲרֵבָ֑ה וחרבה חֲ֭רֵבָה חָרֵ֔ב חָרֵ֣ב חָרֵֽב׃ חרב חרב׃ חרבה chaRev Charevah ḥă·rê·ḇāh ḥā·rêḇ ḥārêḇ ḥărêḇāh he·ḥā·rêḇ he·ḥo·rê·ḇō·wṯ hechaRev hechoreVot heḥārêḇ heḥorêḇōwṯ vachareVah wa·ḥă·rê·ḇāh waḥărêḇāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 7:10 HEB: בְלוּלָֽה־ בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן וַחֲרֵבָ֑ה לְכָל־ בְּנֵ֧י NAS: with oil or dry, shall belong KJV: with oil, and dry, shall all the sons INT: mixed oil dry to all the sons Proverbs 17:1 Jeremiah 33:10 Jeremiah 33:12 Ezekiel 36:35 Ezekiel 36:38 Haggai 1:4 Haggai 1:9 8 Occurrences |
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