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חֹמֶר

𐤇𐤌𐤓

chômer

H2563 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חמר to ferment, bubble up, swell; to become thick, muddy

Definition

A mass or heap of earth or clay; clay or loam used for making bricks or pottery; in an extended sense, a dry measure of volume (approx. 220–230 liters) used for grain or other bulk goods. The primary lexical meaning is 'clay'—either as physical material (mud, loam, or earth), particularly in construction or pottery contexts, or metaphorically to describe human frailty (as in creation imagery). In rare cases, refers to a large heap or pile. The secondary meaning, as a standard dry measure ('homer'), represents a specific quantity in administrative and legal texts.

Semantic Range

clay, mud, loam, heap or mass (esp. of earth, clay, or grain), dry measure of volume (homer), figurative reference to human materiality or frailty

Root / Etymology

Root: חמר. The root חמר conveys the idea of 'to ferment, bubble up, foam, or swell,' especially applied to liquids or substances undergoing agitation. חֹמֶר (chômer) derives from this root and denotes a mass, especially of clay or earth, possibly referencing the bubbling or swelling nature of wet clay or mud. The extension to a dry measure (a 'homer') likely originates from the idea of a 'large heap or mass.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, חֹמֶר appears most commonly in contexts related to clay or mud, especially in construction (as in brick-making in Egypt, Genesis 11:3; Exodus 1:14), or in metaphors describing the formation or impermanence of humans (Job 4:19; 10:9), where clay is evocative of human mortality and frailty. The sense of 'heap' (Numbers 11:32) refers to a pile of gathered goods. The technical value as a dry measure is attested in legal and priestly contexts (Leviticus 27:16; Ezekiel 45:11, 13-14), designating a large standard unit (approx. 10 baths, equivalent to about 220–230 liters). This meaning is preserved in metrication and administrative records. In later periods, the term retained both senses, although the legal measure became dominant. English translations often render 'חֹמֶר' as 'clay' or 'homer' contextually, but the metaphorical and literal overlap can be lost. The term is distinct from other words for clay or earthen material (such as טִיט ṭīt), but sometimes overlaps in usage. Later Rabbinic literature continues the dual usage, generally clarifying the context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָמַר; properly, a bubbling up, i.e. of water, a wave; of earth, mire or clay (cement); also a heap; hence, a chomer or dry measure; clay, heap, homer, mire, motion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חמר (ḥ-m-r) — to ferment, bubble up, swell; to become thick, muddy

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2543 חֲמוֹר on the male donkeys
H2544 חֲמוֹר Hamor
H2560 חָמַר he bubbled up
H2561 חֶמֶר fermenting wine
H2562 חֲמַר he fermented

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2563-04 חֹ֣מֶר chomer HNcmsc a homer clay-mass of 9
H2563-05 הַ/חֹ֨מֶר֙ hachomer HTd/Ncmsa the homer the clay-mass 4
H2563-09 מֵ/חֹ֣מֶר mechomer HR/Ncmsc from a homer from clay-mass 3
H2563-03 חֳמָרִ֣ם chomarim HNcmpa upon heaps clay-masses 3
H2563-06 כְּ/חֹ֥מֶר kechomer HR/Ncmsc like clay like clay-mass 3
H2563-07 כַ/חֹ֨מֶר֙ khachomer HRd/Ncmsa like clay clay-mass 2
H2563-08 לַ/חֹֽמֶר lachomer HRd/Ncmsa as mortar to the clay 2
H2563-10 בַ/חֹ֖מֶר vachomer HRd/Ncmsa the mortar in the clay 1
H2563-02 בְּ/חֹ֨מֶר֙ bechomer HR/Ncmsa in mortar in clay 1
H2563-11 וְ/חֹ֥מֶר vechomer HC/Ncmsc and a homer clay-mass of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2563-08 Genesis 11:3 לַ/חֹֽמֶר lachomer HRd/Ncmsa as mortar to the clay
H2563-02 Exodus 1:14 בְּ/חֹ֨מֶר֙ bechomer HR/Ncmsa in mortar in clay
H2563-03 Exodus 8:10 חֳמָרִ֣ם chomarim HNcmpa heaps clay-masses
H2563-03 Exodus 8:10 חֳמָרִ֑ם chomarim-2 HNcmpa upon heaps clay-masses
H2563-04 Leviticus 27:16 חֹ֣מֶר chomer HNcmsc of a homer clay-mass of
H2563-03 Numbers 11:32 חֳמָרִ֑ים chomarim HNcmpa homers clay-masses
H2563-04 Isaiah 5:10 חֹ֖מֶר chomer HNcmsa homer clay-mass of
H2563-06 Isaiah 10:6 כְּ/חֹ֥מֶר kechomer HR/Ncmsc like mire like clay-mass
H2563-06 Isaiah 29:16 כְּ/חֹ֥מֶר kechomer HR/Ncmsc like clay like clay-mass
H2563-04 Isaiah 41:25 חֹ֔מֶר chomer HNcmsa mortar clay-mass of
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