חֵרֶם
Word Study Guide: חֵרֶם (ḥērem)
About
Transliteration
ḥērem
Strong's
H2764
Definition
The Hebrew word חֵרֶם (ḥērem) refers to something "devoted" or "set apart" to God. This devotion could be in two primary senses:
- Consecration for holy use: Less common, but it can refer to something irrevocably given to the Lord, like an offering (e.g., Leviticus 27:28).
- Consecration for destruction/extermination: This is the more frequent and prominent usage, particularly in the context of war. It signifies a person, city, or object that is utterly separated from common use and dedicated to God for complete destruction due to its inherent defilement or opposition to God. It implies a ban or a curse that results in absolute annihilation, allowing no plunder or preservation by humans.
Related Greek Words
- ἀνάθεμα (anathema - G331): This is the primary Greek word used in the Septuagint (LXX) to translate חֵרֶם (ḥērem). As discussed in the previous study, ἀνάθεμα took on the meaning of "accursed" or "devoted to destruction" in the New Testament, largely influenced by its LXX usage for חֵרֶם.
Original Language Overview
- Hebrew Word: חֵרֶם
- Transliteration: ḥērem
- Translation/Definition: Devoted thing, banned thing, utter destruction, extermination.
- Strong's Number: H2764
Significant Occurrences in Scripture
- Exodus 22.20: "Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction [חֵרֶם, ḥērem]."
- Context: This is one of the earliest occurrences, establishing the principle that idolatry leads to being irrevocably condemned to destruction by God's decree.
- Leviticus 27:28-29: "But no devoted thing [חֵרֶם, ḥērem] that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, may be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. No one devoted [חֵרֶם, ḥērem], who is to be devoted from mankind, can be ransomed; he must surely be put to death."
- Context: These verses highlight the irrevocable nature of something designated as ḥērem. If a person is devoted in this sense (as in a vow involving a life), they cannot be redeemed and must be put to death, underscoring the severity of this ultimate dedication to God's justice.
- Numbers 21:2-3: "If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy [וְהַחֲרַמְתִּי, wəhaḥăramtî - verb form of ḥērem] their cities. And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and Israel utterly destroyed [וַיַּחֲרֵם, wayyaḥărēm - verb form] them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah [חָרְמָה, ḥormâ - derived from ḥērem]."
- Context: This illustrates the ḥērem in action as a vow (often conditional) to dedicate enemies to utter destruction as part of holy war, where the spoils are not taken but destroyed.
- Deuteronomy 7.26: "And you shall not bring an abominable thing [תּוֹעֵבָה, tôʿēbâ - abomination] into your house and become devoted to destruction [חֵרֶם, ḥērem] like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is a devoted thing [חֵרֶם, ḥērem]."
- Context: This warning prohibits taking plunder from condemned peoples, as doing so would make the Israelite themselves ḥērem – subject to the same destruction. It emphasizes the contagious nature of that which is under God's ban.
- Joshua 6:17-18: "And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction [חֵרֶם, ḥērem]. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the devoted things [חֵרֶם, ḥērem], lest when you have devoted them you take some of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a devoted thing and bring trouble upon it."
- Context: The command concerning Jericho explicitly defines it as ḥērem, meaning everything within it (except Rahab and her household) was to be utterly destroyed as an offering to God, not taken as plunder. Violating this ban, as Achan did (Joshua 7), brought severe consequences upon the whole community.
Theological Significance
From a Reformed theological perspective, the concept of ḥērem underscores several important doctrines:
- God's Absolute Sovereignty and Holiness: God, as the righteous judge, has the absolute right to set apart anything for His purposes, including destruction. This demonstrates His utter holiness and His intolerance for sin and rebellion.
- The Seriousness of Sin and Rebellion: The ḥērem vividly illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's covenant and law. It represents the complete separation and judgment that comes upon those who are utterly opposed to God.
- God's Just Wrath: While difficult for modern readers, the ḥērem accounts in the Old Testament are seen as manifestations of God's just wrath against extreme wickedness and idolatry, which threatened the purity and existence of His covenant people. It was a means of purging evil from the land and preventing the Israelites from being corrupted.
- A Foreshadowing of Ultimate Judgment: The physical extermination commanded in the ḥērem serves as a stark picture of the ultimate spiritual judgment that awaits those who remain in rebellion against God. The New Testament concept of ἀνάθεμα, as seen in Paul's writings (e.g., Galatians 1:8-9), carries this weight, referring to an eternal separation from Christ.
- Exclusivity of God's Kingdom: The ḥērem underscores that there can be no compromise with that which is utterly opposed to God's kingdom. Just as Israel was to utterly destroy certain enemies, believers are called to put to death sinful desires and patterns of life (Colossians 3.5), recognizing them as ḥērem to their spiritual walk.
חֵרֶם
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Word Study Guide: חֵרֶם (ḥērem)
About
Transliteration
Strong's
Definition
Related Greek Words
Original Language Overview
Significant Occurrences in Scripture
Theological Significance