Lexical Summary charar: To burn, to be hot, to be scorched Original Word: חָרַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be angry, burn, dry, kindle A primitive root; to glow, i.e. Literally (to melt, burn, dry up) or figuratively (to show or incite passion -- be angry, burn, dry, kindle. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be hot or scorched, to burn NASB Translation been charred (1), blow fiercely (1), burn (1), burned (2), charred (1), glow (1), kindle (1), parched (1), scorched (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [חָרַר] verb be hot, scorched, burn poet. & late (Arabic  be hot, burn, thirst; Ethiopic  Aramaic חַר; compare Assyrian arâru, glow, SASmAssurbanipal i. p. 97 BelserBAS ii. 155) — Qal Perfect3feminine singular חָ֫רָה Job 30:30, וְחָ֫רָה consecutive Ezekiel 24:11, חָ֫רוּ Isaiah 24:6; — 1 be hot, scorched, Jerusalem, under figure of caldron Ezekiel 24:11. 2 burn = be burned, figurative of men, in ׳יs judgement, Isaiah 24:6. 3 burn, of bones of sick men in fever מִנִּיחֹֿרֶב ׳ח Job 30:30. Niph`al Perfect נָחַר Jeremiah 6:29, נָחָ֑ר Ezekiel 15:4, נִחַר Psalm 69:4; 3plural נִחָ֑רוּ Psalm 102:4 (Köi. 368); Imperfect וַיֵּחָ֑ר Ezekiel 15:5 יֵחָ֑רוּ Ezekiel 24:10 (strike out Co B and others) 1 be scorched, of bellows מַמֻּחַ in fierce fire Jeremiah 6:29 **from √ נחר snort, puff, according to Mich Ew Gf Gie and others, — Du; (figurative); scorched, charred, of the vine (as fuel) Ezekiel 15:4,5 middle part charred, the ends devoured (אכל) by fire (simile of inhabitants of Jerusalem); bones (simile id.) Ezekiel 24:10 (see above). 2 burn, of bones in fever Psalm 102:4 (כְּמוֺקֵד, compare Qal Job 30:30); be parched, of throat גרוני ׳נח Job 69:4. — Isaiah 41:11; Isaiah 45:24; Songs 1:6 see חרה. Pilpel Infinitive לְחַרְחַררִֿיב Proverbs 26:21 to kindle strife. Topical Lexicon Root Concept and Thematic Thread The verb חָרַר conveys the idea of becoming hot, scorched, or burned. Across its eleven occurrences the term links physical heat with inner intensity—whether anguish, zeal, or judgment. Scripture consistently employs the imagery of scorching to expose the cost of sin, the pain of affliction, and the purifying aim of divine discipline. Occurrences in Narrative and Poetry • Job 30:30 places the word on Job’s lips as he laments, “my body burns with fever.” The blistering heat mirrors his internal torment and underscores the comprehensive reach of his suffering. Prophetic Uses: Judgment and Refinement Isaiah 24:6 expands the metaphor from personal experience to global catastrophe: “Therefore a curse has consumed the earth… the earth’s dwellers are burned up, and few men are left.” חָרַר depicts eschatological judgment, showing that rebellion produces a scorched earth. Jeremiah 6:29 presents the refining furnace: “The bellows blow fiercely… but the refining is in vain, for the wicked are not removed.” The fire’s purpose is purification, yet hardened hearts resist. Ezekiel 15:4–5 compares Judah to a vine branch “charred” by fire, now useless even for crafting. The nation’s unfaithfulness leads to irreversible loss, the heat of judgment leaving only ashes. Ezekiel 24:10–11 portrays Jerusalem as a rust-covered pot set on intense flames until its impurity is “burned away.” חָרַר here frames God’s severe mercy: the heat that destroys dross aims to restore holiness among His people. Spiritual and Pastoral Significance 1. Suffering that Scorches yet Sanctifies The vocabulary of burning reminds believers that trials, though searing, can deepen dependence on the Lord. Job’s testimony and the psalmists’ laments assure the afflicted that God hears cries uttered from a parched throat and sees skin darkened by hardship. 2. Heat as a Picture of Unchecked Sin Proverbs 26:21 warns that strife, like live coals, easily spreads. Congregations must quench quarrels quickly lest relationships be scorched. Personal anger, when fanned, can become a consuming blaze (James 3:5–6 echoes this motif). 3. Refining Fire and Eschatological Hope The prophets employ חָרַר to announce coming judgment, yet within the same imagery lies hope: heat that melts also refines. Malachi 3:2–3 builds on this principle, anticipating a “Refiner’s fire” that purges the sons of Levi so they may present offerings in righteousness. New Testament writers draw the line forward—“the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though refined by fire” (1 Peter 1:7). 4. Ministry Application Conclusion חָרַר threads through Scripture as a vivid reminder that God uses heat—literal and figurative—to expose, to judge, and ultimately to purify. What scorches in the moment can, by His sovereign hand, yield enduring righteousness and steadfast faith. Forms and Transliterations וְחָ֣רָה וַיֵּחָ֔ר וחרה ויחר חָ֝֗רָה חָרוּ֙ חרה חרו יֵחָֽרוּ׃ יחרו׃ לְחַרְחַר־ לחרחר־ נִֽחֲרוּ־ נִחַ֪ר נִחָֽרוּ׃ נָחַ֣ר נָחָ֔ר נחר נחרו־ נחרו׃ Charah chaRu ḥā·rāh ḥā·rū ḥārāh ḥārū lə·ḥar·ḥar- lecharchar ləḥarḥar- nā·ḥar nā·ḥār naChar nāḥar nāḥār ni·ḥā·rū ni·ḥă·rū- ni·ḥar niChar niCharu niḥar niḥārū niḥărū- vaiyeChar veCharah way·yê·ḥār wayyêḥār wə·ḥā·rāh wəḥārāh yê·ḥā·rū yeCharu yêḥārūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 30:30 HEB: מֵעָלָ֑י וְעַצְמִי־ חָ֝֗רָה מִנִּי־ חֹֽרֶב׃ NAS: on me, And my bones burn with fever. KJV: upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. INT: on and my bones burn with fever Psalm 69:3 Psalm 102:3 Proverbs 26:21 Songs 1:6 Isaiah 24:6 Jeremiah 6:29 Ezekiel 15:4 Ezekiel 15:5 Ezekiel 24:10 Ezekiel 24:11 11 Occurrences |
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