חֵמָר
𐤇𐤌𐤓
chêmâr
H2564 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Viscous, naturally occurring substance used as a binder or sealant, specifically bitumen or asphalt. In biblical contexts, refers to a sticky, dark petroleum product collected from the ground, employed for waterproofing or as mortar in construction projects.
Semantic Range
bitumen, asphalt, pitch, natural tar, material for mortar, material for waterproofing, sticky petroleum product
Root / Etymology
From the root חמר, meaning 'to ferment, boil up, foam, bubble.' חֵמָר is a noun derived directly from this root, denoting a bubbling or oozing substance, specifically bitumen or asphalt, likely named for its appearance as it rises to the surface from underground sources.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חֵמָר typically appears in contexts describing construction or waterproofing: e.g., Genesis 11:3 for mortar in the tower of Babel, and Genesis 14:10 for slime pits in the Siddim Valley. In both cases, it refers to naturally occurring bitumen, exploited in Mesopotamia and the Dead Sea region. This substance was vital for architectural and technological purposes in the ancient Near East, including waterproofing vessels (as in Exodus 2:3 for the basket of Moses, though a different word, זֶפֶת, is used there) and as mortar. The English term 'slime' in older translations is misleading; modern archaeology confirms the use of bitumen for such purposes. While later Greek and Latin translations sometimes translated חֵמָר as 'asphaltos' or 'bitumen,' in post-biblical Hebrew the same word continued in use with a similar meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָמַר; bitumen (as rising to the surface); slime(-pit).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חמר (ḥ-m-r) — to ferment, bubble, boil up, foam
| 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
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2564-01 |
חֵמָ֔ר | chemar | HNcmsa |
of tar | bubbling bitumen | 1 |
H2564-03 |
וְ/הַ֣/חֵמָ֔ר | vehachemar | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the bitumen | and the bubbling bitumen | 1 |
H2564-02 |
בַ/חֵמָ֖ר | vachemar | HRd/Ncmsa |
with bitumen | in bitumen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2564-03 |
Genesis 11:3 | וְ/הַ֣/חֵמָ֔ר | vehachemar | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the bitumen | and the bubbling bitumen |
H2564-01 |
Genesis 14:10 | חֵמָ֔ר | chemar | HNcmsa |
of tar | bubbling bitumen |
H2564-02 |
Exodus 2:3 | בַ/חֵמָ֖ר | vachemar | HRd/Ncmsa |
with bitumen | in bitumen |