חָרֵר
𐤇𐤓𐤓
chârêr
H2788 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A dry, scorched, or parched place characterized by a lack of vegetation and water, typically referring to an arid wasteland or desert locality. In biblical contexts, it designates a specific geographic area or settlement distinguished by its barrenness and exposure to intense heat.
Semantic Range
arid place, scorched area, parched locality, burned region, (proper noun) an identified desert site or settlement
Root / Etymology
From the root חָרַר (ḥarar), meaning 'to be hot, to burn, to glow.' The nominal pattern employed creates a form meaning 'burned place' or 'arid region,' highlighting the environmental feature of extreme dryness or heat.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָרֵר appears in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Joshua 15:3) as a geographical designation, marking a specific site in the allocation of tribal territories. The term carries a strong connotation of desolation and exposure, and is related to the broader root family denoting burning or intense heat. While English translations often render חָרֵר as 'Harar' or 'parched place,' they may obscure the sense of scorching or environmental severity suggested by the Hebrew. The term is geographically anchored (likely in the Negev/Arabah region), and differs from broader words for wilderness, such as מִדְבָּר (midbar), by emphasizing heat and barrenness. In later translation traditions and commentaries, the metaphorical extension of 'parched' to spiritual dryness is absent from the Hebrew Bible, which uses the term descriptively.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרַר; arid; parched place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרר (ḥ-r-r) — to be hot, to burn, to glow
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2715 | חֹר | nobles of |
| H2746 | חַרְחֻר | burning fever |
| H2771 | חָרָן | in Haran |
| H2787 | חָרַר | they burned |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2788-01 |
חֲרֵרִים֙ | charerim | HNcmpa |
in parched places | scorched regions | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2788-01 |
Jeremiah 17:6 | חֲרֵרִים֙ | charerim | HNcmpa |
in parched places | scorched regions |