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חָרָשׁ

𐤇𐤓𐤔

chârâsh

H2796 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חרשׁ to engrave, inscribe, plow, fashion by cutting

Definition

A craftsman or artisan, one skilled in working, shaping, or producing objects from various materials such as wood, metal, or stone. The term denotes an individual engaged in manual trades requiring specialized skill, such as a carpenter, smith, mason, or engraver. It emphasizes proficiency and the ability to fashion or manufacture, rather than simply laboring. In extended use, it may refer generically to someone creating or constructing with technical expertise.

Semantic Range

artisan, craftsman, carpenter, smith, mason, engraver, metalworker, worker skilled in a manual trade, fabricator

Root / Etymology

Root חָרַשׁ (charash), meaning 'to cut in, engrave, inscribe, plow'—implying the act of fashioning or shaping by striking, cutting, or engraving. חָרָשׁ (chârâsh) derives as a noun denoting the person who performs these tasks (i.e., a craftsman or artisan). While the root also underpins words related to silence (i.e., 'to be silent'), the noun here is distinctly connected to acts of manual creation and fabrication, not silence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָרָשׁ appears frequently in descriptions of skilled laborers involved in the construction of significant structures, such as the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus, Kings, Chronicles). In these contexts, it regularly denotes artisans of high skill, whether carpenters, metalworkers (smiths), or masons. During the monarchic period, these trades were often organized and recognized as distinct professions and played a critical role in both public works and elite households. In exilic and post-exilic texts, 'chârâsh' can be contrasted with agricultural workers and scribes, indicating a division of labor in society. LXX renders the term variably as 'tektōn' (craftsman, artisan), which in subsequent Christian literature comes to be translated as 'carpenter,' but the biblical term is broader. English translations sometimes narrow the meaning to 'smith' or 'carpenter,' but the Hebrew encompasses the full range of skilled artisans, regardless of material (wood, stone, metal, etc.). The term should be distinguished from עֹשֶׂה (ōseh, 'worker') which lacks implication of specialization or artistry.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָרַשׁ; a fabricator or any material; artificer, ([phrase]) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, [phrase] mason, skilful, ([phrase]) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חרשׁ (ḥ-r-sh) — cut in, engrave, inscribe, fashion by cutting

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2792 חֶרֶשׁ Craftsman
H2794 חֹרֵשׁ crafting artisan of
H2798 חֲרָשִׁים craftsmen
H2799 חֲרֹשֶׁת and in the workshop-of
H2800 חֲרֹשֶׁת in Woodland-Craftstead

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2796-01 חָרַשׁ֮ charash HNcmsc craftsman craftsman of 13
H2796-08 וְ/חָרָשֵׁ֣י vecharashey HC/Ncmpc and masons and craftsmen of 5
H2796-03 חָרָשִׁ֖ים charashim HNcmpa craftsmen skilled craftsmen 4
H2796-02 חָרָשֵׁ֖י charashey HNcmpc makers craftsmen of 2
H2796-09 וְ/חָרָשִׁ֥ים vecharashim HC/Ncmpa and carpenters and craftsmen 2
H2796-05 לְ/חָרָשֵׁ֤י lecharashey HR/Ncmpc to craftsmen of to craftsmen of 2
H2796-06 לֶ/חָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים lecharashim HRd/Ncmpa to the carpenters to craftsmen 2
H2796-10 וְ/הֶ/חָרָ֤שׁ vehecharash HC/Td/Ncmsa and the craftsmen the craftsman 2
H2796-04 הֶ/חָרָ֖שׁ hecharash HTd/Ncmsa the craftsmen the craftsman 2
H2796-07 וְ/חָרָשׁ֙ vecharash HC/Ncmsa and-smith and craftsman 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2796-01 Exodus 28:11 חָרַשׁ֮ charash HNcmsc an engraver craftsman of
H2796-01 Exodus 35:35 חָרָ֣שׁ charash HNcmsa of the craftsman craftsman of
H2796-01 Exodus 38:23 חָרָ֣שׁ charash HNcmsa engraver craftsman of
H2796-01 Deuteronomy 27:15 חָרָ֖שׁ charash HNcmsa of the craftsman craftsman of
H2796-07 1 Samuel 13:19 וְ/חָרָשׁ֙ vecharash HC/Ncmsa and-smith and craftsman
H2796-08 2 Samuel 5:11 וְ/חָרָשֵׁ֣י vecharashey HC/Ncmpc and carpenters and craftsmen of
H2796-08 2 Samuel 5:11 וְ/חָֽרָשֵׁ֖י vecharashey-2 HC/Ncmpc and masons and craftsmen of
H2796-05 2 Kings 12:12 לְ/חָרָשֵׁ֤י lecharashey HR/Ncmpc to craftsmen of to craftsmen of
H2796-06 2 Kings 22:6 לֶ/חָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים lecharashim HRd/Ncmpa to the carpenters to craftsmen
H2796-04 2 Kings 24:14 הֶ/חָרָ֖שׁ hecharash HTd/Ncmsa the-craftsmen the craftsman
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