הָרַג
𐤄𐤓𐤂
hârag
H2026 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To kill or slay, specifically to take life through violent action; often refers to intentional or active killing, whether in a judicial, military, or criminal context. The term emphasizes the act of killing itself rather than the mode or justification, and can range from lawful executions to acts of violence in warfare or individual murders. It can also be used metaphorically for utter destruction or, less commonly, the killing of animals.
Semantic Range
to kill (a human being), to slay (in battle), to put to death (in judicial sense), to murder, to slaughter (especially in violence), to destroy utterly, to kill an animal (rare), to kill metaphorically (utter destruction)
Root / Etymology
Root: הרג. The root meaning is 'to kill, strike down.' The verb הָרַג derives directly from the root, carrying the basic sense of taking life by force or violence. The root is regularly used for human actions and less frequently for divine acts or slaughter of animals. The form is shared in several Semitic languages with similar meanings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
הָרַג occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible and is attested in all major historical periods—from the patriarchal narratives through the monarchic, exilic, and later periods. In early texts, it is used for personal revenge, fratricide (e.g., Cain and Abel in Gen 4), and military violence. In legal contexts, it appears in judicial execution or capital punishment (e.g., Exod 21:12). In military narratives, הָרַג commonly refers to mass slaying of enemies or inhabitants of defeated cities (e.g., Josh 10:26). The word is sometimes paired in parallelism with מוּת (to die/to kill), but הָרַג focuses on the agent's action, whereas מוּת more generally refers to dying or causing death. There is overlap with other roots such as קטל (to slay, more poetic/Aramaic) or רצח (to murder, usually more pointedly with illicit or criminal connotation). English translations often render הָרַג as 'kill' or 'slay,' but context is crucial for understanding whether the act is viewed as lawful or criminal. Later Jewish tradition distinguished more sharply between הָרַג and רצח, but these nuances are less consistently marked in earlier texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.
Bantu Hebrew
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הרג (h-r-g) — to kill, to slay, to strike down
Word Forms
77 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2026-21 |
הָרְג֖וּ | haregu | HVqp3cp |
they killed | they killed | 15 |
H2026-61 |
וַ/יַּהֲרֹ֨ג | vayaharog | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he killed | and he killed | 15 |
H2026-35 |
לַ/הֲרֹ֣ג | laharog | HR/Vqc |
to kill | to kill | 11 |
H2026-07 |
הָרַ֣ג | harag | HVqp3ms |
he killed | he killed | 7 |
H2026-31 |
הֹרֵ֣ג | horeg | HVqrmsc |
has killed | the killing one | 6 |
H2026-10 |
הָרַ֖גְתָּ | harageta | HVqp2ms |
you have killed | you killed | 6 |
H2026-75 |
יַהֲרֹֽג | yaharog | HVqi3ms |
He killed | he will kill | 5 |
H2026-13 |
הָרַ֨גְתִּי֙ | harageti | HVqp1cs |
I have killed | I killed | 4 |
H2026-58 |
וַ/יַּֽהַרְג֖וּ | vayaharegu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and killed | and they killed | 4 |
H2026-22 |
הָרֹ֔ג | harog | HVqa |
kill | to slay | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
167 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2026-56 |
Genesis 4:8 | וַ/יַּהַרְגֵֽ/הוּ | vayaharegehu | HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms |
and killed him | and he killed him |
H2026-72 |
Genesis 4:14 | יַֽהַרְגֵֽ/נִי | yaharegeni | HVqi3ms/Sp1cs |
will kill me | he will slay me |
H2026-31 |
Genesis 4:15 | הֹרֵ֣ג | horeg | HVqrmsc |
kills | the killing one |
H2026-13 |
Genesis 4:23 | הָרַ֨גְתִּי֙ | harageti | HVqp1cs |
I have killed | I killed |
H2026-17 |
Genesis 4:25 | הֲרָג֖/וֹ | harago | HVqp3ms/Sp3ms |
killed him | he struck him down |
H2026-66 |
Genesis 12:12 | וְ/הָרְג֥וּ | veharegu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and they will kill | and they killed |
H2026-45 |
Genesis 20:4 | תַּהֲרֹֽג | taharog | HVqi2ms |
will you slay | you will kill |
H2026-53 |
Genesis 20:11 | וַ/הֲרָג֖וּ/נִי | vaharaguni | HC/Vqq3cp/Sp1cs |
and they will kill me | and they killed me |
H2026-74 |
Genesis 26:7 | יַֽהַרְגֻ֜/נִי | yahareguni | HVqi3mp/Sp1cs |
they kill me | they kill me |
H2026-62 |
Genesis 27:41 | וְ/אַֽהַרְגָ֖ה | veaharegah | HC/Vqh1cs |
then I will kill | let me kill |