חֲנָמָל
𐤇𐤍𐤌𐤋
chănâmâl
H2602 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of destructive creature or phenomenon associated with agricultural loss or blight, likely a tiny, plant-devouring insect such as an aphid or plant louse; in some contexts, possibly refers to a form of blight or crop disease rather than to frost or cold weather. The word denotes a threat to crops, especially in lists of pests or destructive agents sent as punishment or misfortune.
Semantic Range
type of crop pest, plant-devouring insect, agricultural blight, (in later tradition) frost
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The word חֲנָמָל does not appear to derive unequivocally from any attested Hebrew root. Various proposals have been made relating it to words for 'decay' or 'devour,' but none are definitive. Etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲנָמָל occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Psalms 78:46 and 105:34), always in contexts listing destructive agents afflicting Egyptian agriculture. Its precise referent is ambiguous; however, based on context and grouping with locusts and grasshoppers, many modern scholars interpret it as a small plant-eating insect (such as the aphid or plant louse) rather than 'frost.' Early translations, including the Septuagint, rendered it with terms like 'caterpillar,' reflecting general uncertainty. Medieval Jewish commentators also debated its meaning. The identification as 'frost' appears only in later tradition and likely reflects a misunderstanding based on similarity to other Hebrew terms. Modern scholarship leans toward an insect or blight interpretation, fitting ancient Near Eastern agricultural realities. English versions that translate the term narrowly as 'frost' or generically as 'caterpillar' do not capture the specific agricultural menace implied by the Hebrew term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; perhaps the aphis or plantlouse; frost.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חנמל (uncertain) (ḥ-n-m-l (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly devouring, blighting
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2602-01 |
בַּֽ/חֲנָמַֽל | bachanamal | HR/Ncmsa |
with frost | crop-devouring pest | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2602-01 |
Psalms 78:47 | בַּֽ/חֲנָמַֽל | bachanamal | HR/Ncmsa |
with frost | crop-devouring pest |