חֲרַץ
𐤇𐤓𐤑
chărats
H2783 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Aramaic noun referring specifically to loin(s), regarded as the seat of physical strength, vigor, or reproductive vitality. The term is used in contexts that emphasize physical power or generative capacity, with anatomical reference to the hips or lower back region.
Semantic Range
loin, loins (anatomical); seat of strength or vigor; lower back/hip area
Root / Etymology
Aramaic חֲרַץ derives from a root corresponding to Hebrew חָרַץ (ḥāraṣ), which carries meanings of 'to be sharp, decisive, diligent, energetic.' In this Aramaic noun form, the concept of sharpness or vigor is applied figuratively to the loins, understood as the bodily source of vitality and strength. Root meaning and noun usage are thus related by the underlying idea of vigor or energetic strength. The word is distinct from the more frequent Hebrew word for 'loin(s)', מָתְנַיִם (matnayim).
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲרַץ appears only in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, notably Daniel 2:32, where it describes part of the composition of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Its usage is anatomical and symbolic, identifying a bodily region associated with power. While English translations often use 'loin' or 'loins,' this may not fully communicate the association with energy, strength, or generative power inherent in the original term. Unlike the Hebrew מָתְנַיִם, which is more commonly used and often metaphorical, חֲרַץ is strictly anatomical and rare. In later rabbinic tradition, different terminology is standard, and the figurative associations developed differently.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to חָרַץ in the sense of vigor; the loin (as the seat of strength); loin.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרץ (ḥ-r-ṣ) — sharpness, decisiveness, energy, vigor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2742 | חֲרוּץ | sharp-cutting sledges of |
| H2743 | חָרוּץ | determined one |
| H2757 | חָרִיץ | cut-slices of |
| H2782 | חָרַץ | he decisively determined |
| H2785 | חַרְצַן | from sharp grape-kernels |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2783-01 |
חַרְצֵ/הּ֙ | charetseh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his loins | his vigor-loin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2783-01 |
Daniel 5:6 | חַרְצֵ/הּ֙ | charetseh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his loins | his vigor-loin |