Lexical Summary
cherec: Potsherd, shard, earthenware
Original Word:חֶרֶס
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:cherec
Pronunciation:kheh'-res
Phonetic Spelling:(kheh'-res)
KJV: itch, sun
Word Origin:[from an unused root meaning to scrape]
1. the itch
2. (perhaps from the mediating idea of H2777) the sun
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
itch, sun
Or (with a directive enclitic) charcah (khar'- saw}; from an unused root meaning to scrape; the itch; also (perhaps from the mediating idea ofcharcuwth) the sun -- itch, sun.
see HEBREWcharcuwth
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Judges 14:18 (Late Hebrew
id.) — absolute
Job 9:7 ("" ); with epenth.
Judges 14:18 (compare , ) before the
sun could go down (but read perhaps
into the (bridal)
chamber Sta
ZAW 1884, 253 f f.).
III. [] (Aramaic ,
; also
rough, etc.) —Deuteronomy 28:27 ("" Kt, ). — I, II. see below .
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaningחֶרֶס can denote the blazing “sun,” the time of day governed by the sun’s position, and—by an extension of the root idea of burning or scraping—an “itch” or “rash.” Scripture therefore uses the word in both cosmological and physiological settings, allowing the context to determine the nuance.
Occurrences and Contexts
1.Deuteronomy 28:27 – As one element of the covenant curses, the Lord warns Israel that He will strike the disobedient “with boils,… with scab and itch, from which you cannot be healed.” The term underscores the relentless, burning discomfort of the judgment.
2.Judges 8:13 – After routing Midian, “Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the Ascent of Heres.” The phrase can be read geographically (a slope named for the sun) or temporally (“before the sun was up”); both possibilities stress the swiftness of Gideon’s victory under God’s hand.
3.Judges 14:18 – The Philistine companions answer Samson’s riddle “before the sun set,” highlighting the closing moments of their contractual deadline and setting the stage for Samson’s retaliation.
4.Job 9:7 – Job magnifies God’s sovereignty: “He speaks to the sun, and it does not shine; He seals off the stars.” Here חֶרֶס functions as a poetic trophy of divine dominion—light itself obeys the Creator’s voice.
Theological Significance
God’s lordship over creation and covenant stands at the heart of every usage. In Job, the sun is a servant of Yahweh; in Judges, its daily circuit marks the timing of divinely directed events; in Deuteronomy, the same God who commands the heavens can also touch human skin with unrelenting heat when His people rebel. Whether seen in cosmic grandeur or in bodily affliction, חֶרֶס underscores the certainty that nothing is outside God’s reach.
Historical and Cultural Notes
• In the Ancient Near East the sun was often deified, yet Israel’s Scriptures consistently treat it as part of the created order. By employing חֶרֶס in pivotal episodes, the text implicitly contrasts Israel’s monotheism with surrounding paganism.
• The “Ascent of Heres” (Judges 8:13) likely refers to an eastern-facing slope that catches the first light, a practical landmark for travelers returning from night battle.
• Skin disease signified ritual impurity (Leviticus 13). Associating חֶרֶס with “itch” in Deuteronomy deepens the stigma of covenant violation: sin brings not only physical misery but also social and worship exclusion.
Practical Ministry Reflections
• Divine sovereignty over the sun (Job 9:7) encourages believers to trust God with the macro-realities of a turbulent world.
• The temporal markers in Judges remind disciples to steward time wisely; there is a “setting of the sun” to every God-given opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16).
• The covenant curse of the “itch” warns the church against complacency; holiness matters, and persistent disobedience invites discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6).
• Gideon’s early-morning return illustrates that victory belongs to the Lord (Psalm 20:7), emboldening believers engaged in spiritual warfare.
Christological Echoes
Though חֶרֶס itself is not used messianically, its “sun” imagery prepares the way for Malachi’s promise: “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2). In Jesus Christ—the light of the world (John 8:12)—the glorious, healing radiance hinted at by חֶרֶס finds its ultimate fulfillment.
Key Takeaways
• חֶרֶס ties together themes of time, judgment, victory, and sovereignty.
• From blistering heat on the skin to the movement of the heavenly lights, every domain is under God’s control.
• The word calls believers to fear the Lord, walk in obedience, and rest in the sure hope that the One who commands the sun also guarantees redemption through His Son.
Forms and Transliterations
הֶחָֽרֶס׃ הַחַ֔רְסָה החרס׃ החרסה וּבֶחָ֑רֶס ובחרס לַ֭חֶרֶס לחרס ha·ḥar·sāh haCharsah haḥarsāh he·ḥā·res heChares heḥāres la·ḥe·res Lacheres laḥeres ū·ḇe·ḥā·res ūḇeḥāres uveChares
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