תַּחֲרָא
𐤕𐤇𐤓𐤀
tachărâʼ
H8473 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A defensive garment or armor, specifically a corslet or breastplate, likely made of linen and worn as protective warfare attire. The term connotes an item worn over the torso for defense, distinct from metallic mail or cuirass, emphasizing material (linen) and probable function (flexible, lightweight protection).
Semantic Range
linen corselet, linen breastplate, defensive garment, body armor (non-metallic); by extension, flexible protective coat worn in warfare
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חרה, potentially connected by some scholars to חוּר (indicating 'whiteness' or 'lining') due to the light color of linen, but etymology is uncertain and may be based on phonetic similarity rather than clear root meaning. The form suggests a link to linen and possibly an item that is hollow (wrapped or fitted around the body). The root חרה otherwise means 'to be hot, burn, become angry,' which does not contextually match the noun here, making the etymological derivation ambiguous.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term תַּחֲרָא appears only in Nehemiah 4:16 (Hebrew) in a list of items carried by those involved in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Context suggests a light, flexible defensive covering, probably similar to the Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern linen corselets described in extrabiblical sources, as opposed to the metal scale or chain mail known from later periods. English translation as 'habergeon' may be misleading, as that word historically refers to metal armor in medieval Europe. Linen corselets were historically common, offering moderate protection but greater agility. The term is distinct from שריון (shiryōn, 'coat of mail') or מגן (māgēn, 'shield'). Later Greek and Latin translations render it variously, sometimes equating it with known armor types. In post-exilic context, especially in Nehemiah, the usage reflects contemporary Persian-period military equipment rather than earlier Israelite arms. Later translations using 'habergeon' or 'jacket of mail' reflect medieval interpretive traditions. The word should not be conflated with later or metallic forms of body armor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרָה in the original sense of חוּר or חוּר; a linen corslet (as white or hollow); habergeon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרה (ḥ-r-h) — to be hot, to burn, to blaze with anger
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2734 | חָרָה | in burning |
| H2736 | חַרְהֲיָה | Yah Is Kindled |
| H2740 | חָרוֹן | in burning-heat of |
| H2750 | חֳרִי | burning anger of |
| H2787 | חָרַר | he burned hot |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8473-01 |
תַחְרָ֛א | tachera | HNcmsa |
of a coat of mail | linen war-corselet | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8473-01 |
Exodus 28:32 | תַחְרָ֛א | tachera | HNcmsa |
of a coat of mail | linen war-corselet |
H8473-01 |
Exodus 39:23 | תַחְרָ֑א | tachera | HNcmsa |
of-a-coat-of-mail | linen war-corselet |