Strong's Lexicon
cherem: Ban, devoted thing, accursed thing, destruction
Original Word:חֵרֶם
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:cherem
Pronunciation:KHEH-rem
Phonetic Spelling:(khay'-rem)
Definition:Ban, devoted thing, accursed thing, destruction
Meaning:a net, a doomed object, extermination
Word Origin:From the root חָרַם (charam), meaning "to ban" or "to devote."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -ἀνάθεμα (anathema) - Strong's Greek 331: Often used in the Septuagint to translate "cherem," carrying the idea of something devoted to God, often for destruction.
Usage:The term "cherem" refers to something that is devoted or set apart, often for destruction. In the context of the Old Testament, it is used to describe objects, people, or cities that are devoted to God, either for sacred use or for complete destruction as an act of divine judgment. The concept of "cherem" underscores the idea of total consecration to God, whether through dedication or destruction.
Cultural and Historical Background:In ancient Israel, the concept of "cherem" was integral to the understanding of holiness and purity. When something was declared "cherem," it was considered untouchable and wholly belonging to God. This often meant that it was to be destroyed, as seen in the conquest narratives where cities and their inhabitants were devoted to destruction to prevent the Israelites from being led astray by pagan practices. The practice reflects the seriousness with which the Israelites were to approach their covenant relationship with God, emphasizing obedience and the removal of anything that could lead to idolatry.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Leviticus 27:28 .
; — absoluteJoshua 6:17 24t. (most readZechariah 14:11, Baer );Joshua 7:1; suffix1 Kings 20:42;Isaiah 34:5; —thing devoted to :
(in the strictest application) to be either destroyed, or, in the case of certain objects (e.g. silver and gold, vessels of brass and ironJoshua 6:19,24), set apart to sacred uses; especially
, as Jericho, including all inhabitants (except Rahab's family) and spoilJoshua 6:17,18 (twice in verse);Joshua 7:1,11,15; Achan by taking made (camp of) IsraelJoshua 7:12; compareJoshua 6:18, and became himself , and was stoned and, with his family and possessions, including the spoil, was burntJoshua 7:1,11,12,13 (twice in verse) (all J E exceptJoshua 7:1 P; compareJoshua 7:15;Joshua 7:24;Joshua 7:25);committed unfaithfulness in the matter of thedevoted thing is term for the sinJoshua 7:1;Joshua 22:20 (both P), compare1 Chronicles 2:7; Saul and Israel spared Agag king of Amalek and i.e. of the spoil (sheep and oxen), which should have been utterly destroyed1 Samuel 15:21 (compare1 Samuel 15:3;1 Samuel 15:8; Saul rejected by for this1 Samuel 15:11;1 Samuel 15:26); so an idolatrous city in Israel should become , with all its contents, and be utterly destroyedDeuteronomy 13:17 (compareDeuteronomy 13:13;Deuteronomy 13:15;Deuteronomy 13:16).
. god in his house should become , the relic beingDeuteronomy 7:26 (twice in verse); every human being who became should be killedLeviticus 27:29 (twice in verse) (P; see Di).
apparently (so Di) anythingdevoted to sanctuary under specially stringent conditionsLeviticus 27:28 (see Di; and compareEzra 10:8); a field consecrated to becomes under certain conditionsLeviticus 27:21; every isLeviticus 27:28, and no that a manmay devote, whether man, beast or field, may be sold or redeemedLeviticus 27:28; every such (as in case of metals and metal objectsJoshua 6:17,19) went to Aaron and his sonsNumbers 18:14 (P), to Zadokite priestsEzekiel 44:29.
devotion, ban, involving destruction;1 Kings 20:42man under my ('s)ban (of Benhadad);Isaiah 34:5 (of Edom);Isaiah 43:28 figurative of s giving over Judah to Chaldaea; not to be in futureZechariah 14:11;Malachi 3:24smite the land with a ban, i.e. utterly destroy it.
II. (as something perforated; compare Arabic
perforated work, Fl in NHWBii, 208; Late Hebrewnet; Phoenicianmaker of nets) — absoluteMicah 7:2; suffixEzekiel 32:3,Habakkuk 1:15,16,17; pluralEcclesiastes 7:26;Ezekiel 26:5,14;Ezekiel 47:10; —hunter's netMicah 7:2;Ecclesiastes 7:26;fisherman's netEzekiel 26:5,14;Ezekiel 32:3;Ezekiel 47:10;Habakkuk 1:15,16,17.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
accursed dedicated thing, appointed to utter destruction, Extermination
Or (Zecheriah 14:11) cherem {kheh'-rem}; fromcharam; physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstr. Extermination -- (ac-)curse(-d, -d thing), dedicated thing, things which should have been utterly destroyed, (appointed to) utter destruction, devoted (thing), net.
see HEBREWcharam
Forms and Transliterations
בְּחֶרְמִֽי׃ בְחֶרְמ֔וֹ בַּחֵ֑רֶם בַּחֵ֔רֶם בַּחֵֽרֶם׃ בחרם בחרם׃ בחרמו בחרמי׃ הַחֵ֑רֶם הַחֵ֔רֶם הַחֵ֖רֶם החרם וְחֵ֖רֶם וַחֲרָמִ֛ים וחרם וחרמים חֲרָמִ֤ים חֲרָמִים֙ חֵ֕רֶם חֵ֖רֶם חֵ֗רֶם חֵ֛רֶם חֵ֡רֶם חֵ֤רֶם חֵ֥רֶם חֵֽרֶם׃ חֶרְמ֑וֹ חֶרְמִ֖י חרם חרם׃ חרמו חרמי חרמים לְחֵ֑רֶם לְחֵ֔רֶם לְחֶרְמ֔וֹ לַֽחֲרָמִ֖ים לַחֵ֙רֶם֙ לחרם לחרמו לחרמים ba·ḥê·rem baCherem baḥêrem bə·ḥer·mî ḇə·ḥer·mōw becherMi bəḥermî ḇəḥermōw charaMim Cherem Cherem cherMi cherMo ha·ḥê·rem ḥă·rā·mîm haCherem haḥêrem ḥărāmîm ḥê·rem ḥer·mî ḥer·mōw ḥêrem ḥermî ḥermōw la·ḥă·rā·mîm la·ḥê·rem lacharaMim laCherem laḥărāmîm laḥêrem lə·ḥê·rem lə·ḥer·mōw leCherem lecherMo ləḥêrem ləḥermōw vacharaMim veCherem vecherMo wa·ḥă·rā·mîm waḥărāmîm wə·ḥê·rem wəḥêrem
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