2763. charam
Strong's Lexicon
charam: To ban, devote, destroy utterly, exterminate

Original Word: חָרַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charam
Pronunciation: khaw-ram'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-ram')
Definition: To ban, devote, destroy utterly, exterminate
Meaning: to seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G331: ἀνάθεμα (anathema) - something devoted to God, often for destruction.

- G2673: καταργέω (katargeo) - to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, or to abolish.

Usage: The Hebrew verb "charam" primarily means to ban or devote something to destruction. It is often used in the context of dedicating something to God, which frequently involves its complete destruction. This term is used in the context of warfare, where certain cities or peoples are devoted to destruction as an act of divine judgment. It can also refer to the act of setting something apart as sacred or forbidden.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of "charam" was deeply tied to the idea of holiness and the covenant relationship with God. When something was "charam," it was considered irrevocably dedicated to God, often through destruction, to prevent any profane use. This practice was common in the context of holy war, where the Israelites were commanded to destroy certain peoples and their possessions to prevent idolatry and maintain the purity of worship. The practice reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice and the seriousness of maintaining covenantal faithfulness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [חָרַם] verb Hiph`il ban, devote, exterminate (MI17 החרמתה of devoting, dedicating a city to Chemosh, in clause with כי explaining massacre of all inhabitants; the altar-hearth of ׳י there was dragged before Chemosh; be prohibited, forbidden, unlawful, become sacred; II. make, pronounce sacred, inviolable; Ethiopic prohibit from common use, consecrate to God, esteem unlawful; Palmyrene חרם = consacrÈ VogNo 35; Nabataean id., Eutp. 28; Sabean מחרם sanctuary, temple, OsZMG 1865, 176. 252, חרמתן DHMZMG 1875, 594; Aramaic אַחֲרִים, and especially anathematize, excommunicate; see also WeSkizzen iii, 165, DrSm 100 ff., RSSemitic i. 140 (150)) — Hiph`il Perfect הֶהֱרִים Joshua 8:26 5t.; הֶחֱרִם Joshua 10:28; 2masculine singular וְהַחֲרַמְתָּ֫ה 1 Samuel 15:18; 1singular הֶחֱרַמְתִּי 1 Samuel 15:20; וְהַחֲרַמְתִּ֫י Numbers 21:2; 2feminine singular וְהַחֲרַמְתְּ(יׅ consecutive Micah 4:13 (so ᵐ5 ᵑ9 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 RV most; ᵑ01singular), see Ges§ 44, R. 4; plural הֶחֱרִימוּ 1 Samuel 15:9; 2Chronicles 32:14 etc.; (1 Samuel 15:3 read והחרמתו ᵐ5 We Dr); Imperfect יַחֲרִם Leviticus 27:28; וַיַּחֲרֵם Numbers 21:3; Joshua 10:37; suffix וַיַּחֲרִימָהּ Joshua 10:1; 1plural וַנַּחֲרֵם Deuteronomy 2:34; Deuteronomy 3:6 etc.; Imperative הַחֲרֵם Deuteronomy 13:16; plural הַחֲרִימוּ Jeremiah 51:3; suffix הַחֲרִימוּהָ Jeremiah 50:26; Infinitive absolute הַחֲרֵם Deuteronomy 3:6 4t.; construct הַחֲרִים2Chronicles 20:23; Daniel 11:44; suffix הַחֲרִימָם Joshua 11:20 4t.; — ban, devote (especially religiously, followed by objects hostile to the theocracy [see especially Exodus 22:19 Hoph`al]; this involved Generally their destruction; when a city was 'devoted' the inhabitants were put to death, the spoil being destroyed or not according to the gravity of the occasion [contrast Joshua 6:17,21; 1 Samuel 15:3 with Deuteronomy 2:34f. Deuteronomy 3:6,7], compare MI17 לעשתר כמש החרמתה to Ashtar-Chemosh I devoted it, i.e. the city Nebo); —

1 most often of devoting to destruction cities of Canaanites and other neighbours of Israel, exterminating inhabitants, and destroying or appropriating their possessions:

a. Israel and her leaders subject Numbers 21:2,3(destruction according to vow), Joshua 6:21 (compare חֵרֶם ליהוה Joshua 6:17; all J); in Joshua 6:18 read תַּחְמְדוּ (for ᵑ0 תַּחֲרִימוּ, see Di VB); Joshua 8:26 (ᵐ5, not ᵐ5L, omit verse), Joshua 10:1 (JE), Deuteronomy 2:34; Deuteronomy 3:6 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 7:2 (twice in verse) (commanded through Moses, compare for underlying thought Deuteronomy 7:4; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 7:6), Deuteronomy 20:17 (twice in verse) (commanded by ׳י), Joshua 2:10; Joshua 10:28,35,37,39,40 (divine command), Joshua 11:11,12,20,21 (divine command Joshua 11:12; Joshua 11:20; all D), 1 Samuel 15:3,8,9 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 15:15,18,20 (divine command 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 15:18; 1 Samuel 15:20, compare 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Samuel 15:23); quite secondary is simple exterminate 1 Kings 9:21; 1 Chronicles 4:41.

b. secondary meaning destroy, exterminate, also with other nations subject: — 2 Kings 19:11 = Isaiah 37:11 2Chronicles 32:14; 20:23; Jeremiah 50:21,26 (both by divine command), Jeremiah 51:3; Daniel 11:44.

c. God as subject, figurative all nations and their armies Isaiah 34:2; the nations of Western Asia Jeremiah 25:9; the tongue of the Egyptian sea (by drying it up) Isaiah 11:15 (but read perhaps החריב with ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7).

d. so also of devoting even Israelites: a city of Israel for worshipping other gods Deuteronomy 13:16; residents of Jabesh-Gilead for not joining in campaign against Benjamin Judges 21:11.

2 devote to ׳י: for sacred uses החרים ליהוה the spoil of the nations Micah 4:13; private possessions, whether a man, animal, or field Leviticus 27:28 (P).

Hoph`al Imperfect יָחֳרַם Leviticus 27:29; Ezra 10:8; יָחֳרָ֑ם Exodus 22:19; —

1 be put under the ban, devoted (to death), for worshipping other gods than ׳י Exodus 22:19 (J E; earliest use of word in OT); for some other theocratic offence Leviticus 27:29 (P; see Di).

2 devoted, i.e. forfeited, to the temple treasures Ezra 10:8. — On חרם see especially Di (Kn) Leviticus 27:28; EwAntiq. 75. 78, Dr 1 Samuel 15:33.

II. [חָרַם] verb slit (nose, lip, ear, etc.), mutilate, especially face (Arabic perforate, pierce, slit the partition between the nostrils, or the lip, or the lobe of the ear) —

Qal Passive participle אִישׁ עִוֵּר אוֺ מִּסֵּחַ אוֺ חָרֻם אוֺ שָׂרוּעַ a man blind or lame or mutilated in the face (in nose, lip, ear, etc.), or too long in a limb Leviticus 21:18 (H), see Di (Kn).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make accursed, consecrate, utterly destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly slay

A primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose -- make accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away).

Forms and Transliterations
הֶחֱרִ֑ים הֶחֱרִ֔ים הֶחֱרִ֣ים הֶחֱרִ֣ימוּ הֶחֱרִ֣ם הֶחֱרִ֥ים הֶחֱרִֽימוּ׃ הֶחֱרִימָ֖ם הֶחֱרִימָ֥ם הֶחֱרַֽמְנוּ׃ הֶחֱרַֽמְתִּי׃ הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם הַֽחֲרִימָ֔ם הַֽחֲרֵ֔ם הַחֲרִ֖ימוּ הַחֲרִימָ֑ם הַחֲרֵ֣ם הַחֲרֵ֤ם הַחֲרֵ֨ם הַחֲרֵם֙ החרים החרימו החרימו׃ החרימם החרם החרמנו׃ החרמתי׃ החרמתם וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים וְהַ֣חֲרַמְתִּ֔ים וְהַֽחֲרַמְתִּ֖י וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ וְהַחֲרִימ֑וּהָ וְהַחֲרֵ֤ם וְהַחֲרַמְתִּ֤י וְהַחֲרַמְתָּ֞ה וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙ וַֽנַּחֲרֵם֙ וַיַּחֲרִ֣ימוּ וַיַּחֲרִימָהּ֒ וַיַּחֲרִימֻם֙ וַיַּחֲרֵ֣ם וַיַּחֲרֵ֥ם וַנַּחֲרֵ֣ם וּֽלְהַחֲרִ֖ים והחרים והחרימוה והחרם והחרמתה והחרמתי והחרמתים והחרמתם ויחרימה ויחרימו ויחרימם ויחרם ולהחרים ונחרם חָרֻ֖ם חרם יַחֲרִם֩ יָֽחֳרָ֑ם יָחֳרַ֖ם יָחֳרַ֛ם יחרם לְהַֽחֲרִימָ֑ם לְהַחֲרִ֣ים לְהַחֲרִימָ֑ם להחרים להחרימם תַּחֲרִ֖ימוּ תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃ תַּחֲרִים֙ תַּחֲרִימֵ֗ם תחרים תחרימו תחרימו׃ תחרימם chaRum ha·ḥă·rêm ha·ḥă·rî·mām ha·ḥă·rî·mū ḥā·rum hachaRem hachariMam hachaRimu haḥărêm haḥărîmām haḥărîmū ḥārum he·ḥĕ·ram·nū he·ḥĕ·ram·tem he·ḥĕ·ram·tî he·ḥĕ·rî·mām he·ḥĕ·rî·mū he·ḥĕ·rim he·ḥĕ·rîm hecheRamnu hecheramTem hecheRamti hecheRim hecheriMam hecheRimu heḥĕramnū heḥĕramtem heḥĕramtî heḥĕrim heḥĕrîm heḥĕrîmām heḥĕrîmū lə·ha·ḥă·rî·mām lə·ha·ḥă·rîm lehachaRim lehachariMam ləhaḥărîm ləhaḥărîmām ta·ḥă·rî·mêm ta·ḥă·rî·mū ta·ḥă·rîm tachaRim tachariMem tachaRimu taḥărîm taḥărîmêm taḥărîmū ū·lə·ha·ḥă·rîm ulehachaRim ūləhaḥărîm vaiyachaRem vaiyachariMah vaiyachaRimu vaiyachariMum vannachaRem vehacharamTah vehacharamTem vehacharamTi veHacharamTim vehachaRem vehachariMuha vehecheRim wan·na·ḥă·rêm wannaḥărêm way·ya·ḥă·rêm way·ya·ḥă·rî·māh way·ya·ḥă·rî·mū way·ya·ḥă·rî·mum wayyaḥărêm wayyaḥărîmāh wayyaḥărîmū wayyaḥărîmum wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tāh wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tem wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tî wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tîm wə·ha·ḥă·rêm wə·ha·ḥă·rî·mū·hā wə·he·ḥĕ·rîm wəhaḥăramtāh wəhaḥăramtem wəhaḥăramtî wəhaḥăramtîm wəhaḥărêm wəhaḥărîmūhā wəheḥĕrîm ya·ḥă·rim yā·ḥo·ram yā·ḥo·rām yachaRim yaḥărim yāḥoram yāḥorām yochoRam
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 22:20
HEB: זֹבֵ֥חַ לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יָֽחֳרָ֑ם בִּלְתִּ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה
NAS: alone, shall be utterly destroyed.
KJV: unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
INT: sacrifices god shall be utterly other to the LORD

Leviticus 21:18
HEB: פִסֵּ֔חַ א֥וֹ חָרֻ֖ם א֥וֹ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃
NAS: or he who has a disfigured [face], or
KJV: or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
INT: A lame or disfigured or deformed

Leviticus 27:28
HEB: חֵ֡רֶם אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַחֲרִם֩ אִ֨ישׁ לַֽיהוָ֜ה
NAS: a man sets apart to the LORD
KJV: that a man shall devote unto the LORD
INT: devoted which sets A man God

Leviticus 27:29
HEB: חֵ֗רֶם אֲשֶׁ֧ר יָחֳרַ֛ם מִן־ הָאָדָ֖ם
NAS: who may have been set apart among
KJV: which shall be devoted of men,
INT: devoted who may have been set among men

Numbers 21:2
HEB: הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדִ֔י וְהַֽחֲרַמְתִּ֖י אֶת־ עָרֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
KJV: into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
INT: this my hand will utterly their cities

Numbers 21:3
HEB: אֶת־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וַיַּחֲרֵ֥ם אֶתְהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־
NAS: up the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities.
KJV: the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities:
INT: and delivered the Canaanites utterly and their cities was called

Deuteronomy 2:34
HEB: בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא וַֽנַּחֲרֵם֙ אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: at that time and utterly destroyed the men,
KJV: at that time, and utterly destroyed the men,
INT: time he and utterly of every city

Deuteronomy 3:6
HEB: וַנַּחֲרֵ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: We utterly destroyed them, as we did
KJV: And we utterly destroyed them, as we did
INT: utterly them did

Deuteronomy 3:6
HEB: מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן הַחֲרֵם֙ כָּל־ עִ֣יר
NAS: We utterly destroyed them, as we did
KJV: of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men,
INT: king of Heshbon destroyed of every city

Deuteronomy 7:2
HEB: לְפָנֶ֖יךָ וְהִכִּיתָ֑ם הַחֲרֵ֤ם תַּחֲרִים֙ אֹתָ֔ם
NAS: you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy
KJV: thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy
INT: before defeat shall utterly destroy no

Deuteronomy 7:2
HEB: וְהִכִּיתָ֑ם הַחֲרֵ֤ם תַּחֲרִים֙ אֹתָ֔ם לֹא־
NAS: them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make
KJV: them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make
INT: defeat shall utterly destroy no shall make

Deuteronomy 13:15
HEB: לְפִי־ חָ֑רֶב הַחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֧הּ וְאֶת־
NAS: of the sword, utterly destroying it and all
KJV: of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that [is] therein, and the cattle
INT: the edge of the sword utterly and all after

Deuteronomy 20:17
HEB: כִּֽי־ הַחֲרֵ֣ם תַּחֲרִימֵ֗ם הַחִתִּ֤י
NAS: But you shall utterly destroy
KJV: But thou shalt utterly destroy
INT: for shall utterly destroy the Hittite

Deuteronomy 20:17
HEB: כִּֽי־ הַחֲרֵ֣ם תַּחֲרִימֵ֗ם הַחִתִּ֤י וְהָאֱמֹרִי֙
NAS: But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite
KJV: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites,
INT: for shall utterly destroy the Hittite and the Amorite

Joshua 2:10
HEB: וּלְע֔וֹג אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃
NAS: and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
KJV: and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
INT: and Og whom utterly

Joshua 6:18
HEB: הַחֵ֔רֶם פֶּֽן־ תַּחֲרִ֖ימוּ וּלְקַחְתֶּ֣ם מִן־
NAS: so that you do not covet [them] and take
KJV: [yourselves] from the accursed thing, lest ye make [yourselves] accursed, when ye take
INT: the things so covet and take some

Joshua 6:21
HEB: וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: They utterly destroyed everything
KJV: And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city,
INT: utterly everything it

Joshua 8:26
HEB: עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱרִ֔ים אֵ֖ת כָּל־
NAS: until he had utterly destroyed all
KJV: the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants
INT: until which had utterly all the inhabitants

Joshua 10:1
HEB: אֶת־ הָעַי֮ וַיַּחֲרִימָהּ֒ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה
NAS: Ai, and had utterly destroyed it (just
KJV: Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done
INT: Joshua Ai utterly he had done

Joshua 10:28
HEB: וְאֶת־ מַלְכָּהּ֒ הֶחֱרִ֣ם אוֹתָ֗ם וְאֶת־
NAS: of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and every
KJV: and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls
INT: of the sword king utterly and every person

Joshua 10:35
HEB: בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא הֶחֱרִ֑ים כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day
KJV: and all the souls that [were] therein he utterly destroyed that day,
INT: day and he utterly to all who

Joshua 10:37
HEB: עָשָׂ֖ה לְעֶגְל֑וֹן וַיַּחֲרֵ֣ם אוֹתָ֔הּ וְאֶת־
NAS: to Eglon. And he utterly destroyed it and every
KJV: to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls
INT: had done to Eglon utterly and every person

Joshua 10:39
HEB: לְפִי־ חֶ֔רֶב וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: of the sword, and utterly destroyed every
KJV: of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls
INT: the edge of the sword and utterly every person

Joshua 10:40
HEB: כָּל־ הַנְּשָׁמָה֙ הֶחֱרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ה
NAS: survivor, but he utterly destroyed all
KJV: none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed,
INT: all who utterly after had commanded

Joshua 11:11
HEB: לְפִי־ חֶ֙רֶב֙ הַֽחֲרֵ֔ם לֹ֥א נוֹתַ֖ר
NAS: of the sword, utterly destroying [them]; there was no
KJV: of the sword, utterly destroying [them]: there was not any left
INT: the edge of the sword utterly not left

52 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2763
52 Occurrences


ḥā·rum — 1 Occ.
ha·ḥă·rêm — 5 Occ.
ha·ḥă·rî·mām — 2 Occ.
ha·ḥă·rî·mū — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·ram·nū — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·ram·tem — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·ram·tî — 1 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·rîm — 6 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·rî·mām — 2 Occ.
he·ḥĕ·rî·mū — 2 Occ.
lə·ha·ḥă·rîm — 1 Occ.
lə·ha·ḥă·rî·mām — 3 Occ.
ta·ḥă·rîm — 1 Occ.
ta·ḥă·rî·mêm — 1 Occ.
ta·ḥă·rî·mū — 2 Occ.
ū·lə·ha·ḥă·rîm — 1 Occ.
way·ya·ḥă·rêm — 2 Occ.
way·ya·ḥă·rî·māh — 1 Occ.
way·ya·ḥă·rî·mū — 3 Occ.
way·ya·ḥă·rî·mum — 1 Occ.
wan·na·ḥă·rêm — 2 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tāh — 1 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tem — 1 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tî — 2 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tîm — 1 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·rêm — 1 Occ.
wə·ha·ḥă·rî·mū·hā — 1 Occ.
wə·he·ḥĕ·rîm — 1 Occ.
ya·ḥă·rim — 1 Occ.
yā·ḥo·rām — 3 Occ.
















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