Lexical Summary cherec: Potsherd, shard, earthenware Original Word: חֶרֶס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance itch, sun Or (with a directive enclitic) charcah (khar'- saw}; from an unused root meaning to scrape; the itch; also (perhaps from the mediating idea of charcuwth) the sun -- itch, sun. see HEBREW charcuwth Brown-Driver-Briggs I. חֶ֫רֶס noun masculineJudges 14:18 sun (Late Hebrew id.) — absolute ׳ח Job 9:7 ("" כוכבים); with ה epenth. בְּטֶרֶם יָבֹא הַחַ֫רְסָה Judges 14:18 (compare לַיִל, לַיְלָה) before the sun could go down (but read perhaps הַחַ֫דְרָה into the (bridal) chamber StaZAW 1884, 253 f f.). III. [חֶ֫רֶס] noun [masculine] an eruptive disease, itch (Aramaic חַרְסָא, Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning חֶרֶס can denote the blazing “sun,” the time of day governed by the sun’s position, and—by an extension of the root idea of burning or scraping—an “itch” or “rash.” Scripture therefore uses the word in both cosmological and physiological settings, allowing the context to determine the nuance. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Deuteronomy 28:27 – As one element of the covenant curses, the Lord warns Israel that He will strike the disobedient “with boils,… with scab and itch, from which you cannot be healed.” The term underscores the relentless, burning discomfort of the judgment. Theological Significance God’s lordship over creation and covenant stands at the heart of every usage. In Job, the sun is a servant of Yahweh; in Judges, its daily circuit marks the timing of divinely directed events; in Deuteronomy, the same God who commands the heavens can also touch human skin with unrelenting heat when His people rebel. Whether seen in cosmic grandeur or in bodily affliction, חֶרֶס underscores the certainty that nothing is outside God’s reach. Historical and Cultural Notes • In the Ancient Near East the sun was often deified, yet Israel’s Scriptures consistently treat it as part of the created order. By employing חֶרֶס in pivotal episodes, the text implicitly contrasts Israel’s monotheism with surrounding paganism. Practical Ministry Reflections • Divine sovereignty over the sun (Job 9:7) encourages believers to trust God with the macro-realities of a turbulent world. Christological Echoes Though חֶרֶס itself is not used messianically, its “sun” imagery prepares the way for Malachi’s promise: “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2). In Jesus Christ—the light of the world (John 8:12)—the glorious, healing radiance hinted at by חֶרֶס finds its ultimate fulfillment. Key Takeaways • חֶרֶס ties together themes of time, judgment, victory, and sovereignty. Forms and Transliterations הֶחָֽרֶס׃ הַחַ֔רְסָה החרס׃ החרסה וּבֶחָ֑רֶס ובחרס לַ֭חֶרֶס לחרס ha·ḥar·sāh haCharsah haḥarsāh he·ḥā·res heChares heḥāres la·ḥe·res Lacheres laḥeres ū·ḇe·ḥā·res ūḇeḥāres uveCharesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 28:27 HEB: ק) וּבַגָּרָ֖ב וּבֶחָ֑רֶס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ NAS: and with the scab and with the itch, from which KJV: and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst INT: stronghold the scab the itch which not Judges 8:13 Judges 14:18 Job 9:7 4 Occurrences |