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חֶמְאָה

𐤇𐤌𐤀𐤄

chemʼâh

H2529 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Dairy product derived from curdled milk, typically referring to a soft, thick, or clotted form such as curds or butter; sometimes distinguished from ordinary milk in context as a more refined or processed dairy item. In biblical texts, often associated with hospitality or abundance, sometimes used metaphorically for richness or delight.

Semantic Range

curdled milk, soft cheese, clotted cream, cultured butter, rich dairy product, food of hospitality or abundance

Root / Etymology

Root: חמה, connected to the idea of heating or thickening. The noun חֶמְאָה, formed with a feminine ending, likely denotes a substance that has been thickened by processing (e.g., churning or allowing to curdle). The relationship to the root for 'wall' (חוֹמָה) is likely phonetic only; the actual derivation is from notions of thickening, not from fortification or protection.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, חֶמְאָה most often refers to a dairy product like butter, curds, or clotted cream, derived by churning or allowing milk to set. In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it is presented as a choice food, indicating hospitality or prosperity (Genesis 18:8; Deuteronomy 32:14), often paired with milk or honey. There may be overlap with terms later used for hard cheese (גבינה) or soft curds. The term does not correspond exactly to modern 'butter,' as the ancient product was more likely a thick, sour cream or cultured dairy product. In many English Bibles, 'butter' is used, but this may mislead as to the precise nature of the original food. During later periods, a distinction between various processed dairy products became more precise, but חֶמְאָה generally retained its sense of a rich, curdled or churned dairy product. Greek and Latin translations sometimes render it differently, underlining the lack of an exact equivalent across cultures.

Translation Consistency

primary "curds" 8 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering for חֶמְאָה in biblical contexts; covers curdled milk/soft cheese/clotted cream senses and matches the majority of existing translations (e.g., “curds and milk”) while conveying the idea of a rich, processed dairy product associated with hospitality.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"thickened dairy of" (1x) "butter" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) חֵמָה; from the same root as חוֹמָה; curdled milk or cheese; butter.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חמה (Chamat) — to be hot, to burn, to be inflamed

Root חמה to thicken, to coagulate, to heat (by extension: to process, as dairy)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2528 חֱמָא burning fury
H2553 חַמָּן your sun-pillars
H2574 חֲמָת in Hamath-Fortress
H2575 חַמַּת from Chammath

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2529-02 חֶמְאָ֜ה chemeah HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds 6
H2529-04 וְ/חֶמְאָ֗ה vechemeah HC/Ncfsa and butter thickened curds and thickened curds 2
H2529-01 בְּ/חֵמָ֑ה bechemah HR/Ncfsa with butter in burning heat with butter 1
H2529-03 חֶמְאַ֨ת chemeat HNcfsc curds thickened dairy of thickened dairy of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2529-02 Genesis 18:8 חֶמְאָ֜ה chemeah HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds
H2529-03 Deuteronomy 32:14 חֶמְאַ֨ת chemeat HNcfsc curds thickened dairy of thickened dairy of
H2529-02 Judges 5:25 חֶמְאָֽה chemeah HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds
H2529-04 2 Samuel 17:29 וְ/חֶמְאָ֗ה vechemeah HC/Ncfsa and butter thickened curds and thickened curds
H2529-02 Isaiah 7:15 חֶמְאָ֥ה chemeah HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds
H2529-02 Isaiah 7:22 חֶמְאָ֑ה chemeah HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds
H2529-02 Isaiah 7:22 חֶמְאָ֤ה chemeah-2 HNcfsa curds thickened milk curds
H2529-02 Proverbs 30:33 חֶמְאָ֗ה chemeah HNcfsa butter thickened milk curds
H2529-04 Job 20:17 וְ/חֶמְאָֽה vechemeah HC/Ncfsa and butter thickened curds and thickened curds
H2529-01 Job 29:6 בְּ/חֵמָ֑ה bechemah HR/Ncfsa with butter in burning heat with butter
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