חָרַךְ
𐤇𐤓𐤊
chârak
H2760 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To roast or parch (typically grain or other food by direct heat), with extended senses of burning or shriveling due to exposure to fire or intense heat. May also, in rare or non-standard contexts, refer to the act of ensnaring or catching (as by entangling or braiding), but its primary attested biblical usage concerns roasting or parching food.
Semantic Range
to roast (grain or food), to parch, to shrivel or dry up by heat, to burn; rarely or uncertainly, to braid, to snare or entangle
Root / Etymology
Root: חרך. The core root meaning involves burning, parching, or shriveling under heat. The derived form חָרַךְ refers specifically to the process of roasting or parching food, particularly grain, often by direct exposure to fire or intense heat.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָרַךְ primarily appears in contexts relating to the roasting of grain (e.g. parched or roasted ears), a common method of food preparation in ancient Israelite agrarian society. The meaning 'to roast' refers both to culinary practice and, metaphorically, to the effect of heat (such as burning, shriveling, or withering). The possible meaning of 'to braid' or 'to snare' is uncertain and lacks clear attestation in the major biblical texts, perhaps reflecting a later or regional semantic extension or confusion with similar roots. Standard English translations almost always render this verb as 'roast' or 'parch,' corresponding to its most securely attested biblical uses. The word is distinct from other Hebrew terms for burning or cooking (e.g., צלה for 'roast' more generally, בָּשַׁל for 'boil'), marking a specific process. There is no known significant development or shift in meaning across periods, but the word is relatively rare.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to braid (i.e. to entangle or snare) or catch (game) in anet; roast.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרך (ḥ-r-k) — to scorch, to burn, to shrivel, to roast, to parch
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2760-01 |
יַחֲרֹ֣ךְ | yacharokhe | HVqi3ms |
roast | he will parch | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2760-01 |
Proverbs 12:27 | יַחֲרֹ֣ךְ | yacharokhe | HVqi3ms |
roast | he will parch |