2040. haras
Lexical Summary
haras: To tear down, destroy, overthrow, break down

Original Word: הָרַס
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harac
Pronunciation: hah-RAHS
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-ras')
KJV: beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, X utterly
NASB: torn down, overthrow, tear down, thrown down, break down, break through, destroyed
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to pull down or in pieces, break, &Š destroy

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beat down, break down, through, destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin,

A primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, &? Destroy -- beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, X utterly.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to throw down, break or tear down
NASB Translation
break down (2), break through (2), broken down (1), destroyed (2), destroyers (1), overthrew (2), overthrow (5), overthrown (1), overthrows (1), pull you down (1), pull down (1), ruined (2), shatter (1), tear them down (1), tear you down (1), tear down (5), tears it down (1), tears down (1), thrown down (3), torn down (7), utterly overthrow (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
הָרַס verb throw down, break or tear down (MI הרם; ? Arabic , bruise, bray, pound, crush (grain)) —

Qal Perfect ׳הָ Lamentations 2:2,17; הָרָ֑ס Isaiah 14:17; וְהָרַסְתָּ֫ Judges 6:25 וְהָרַסְתִּ֫י Ezekiel 13:14; Micah 5:10; וְהָֽרְסוּ Ezekiel 16:39; Ezekiel 26:4,12 הָרָ֑סוּ 1 Kings 19:10,14; Imperfect יַהֲרוֺס Job 12:14; suffix יֶהֶרְסֶ֑ךָ Isaiah 22:19; וַיֶּהֶרְסֶ֑הָ 1 Chronicles 20:1; יֶהֶרְסֶנָּה Proverbs 29:4 יֶהֶרְסֵם Psalm 28:5; 3feminine singular suffix 3 masculine singular תֶּהֶרְסֶנּוּ Proverbs 14:1; 2masculine singular תַּהֲרֹס Exodus 15:7; אֶהֱרֹס Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 42:10 אֶהֱרוֺס Malachi 1:4; 3masculine plural יֶהֶרְסוּ Exodus 19:21,24; יַהֲרֹ֑סוּ 2 Kings 3:25; Imperative הֲרָסֿ Psalm 58:7; suffix הָרְסָהּ 2 Samuel 11:25; Infinitive הֲרֹס Jeremiah 31:28 הֲרוֺס Jeremiah 1:10; Participle active הֹרֵס Jeremiah 45:4; passive הָרוּס 1 Kings 18:30; —

1 throw down, tear down, with accusative: altar(s) Judges 6:25; 1 Kings 18:30; 1 Kings 19:10,14; height (גַּב, where idol-altar stood ? compare גֶּב below גבב) Ezekiel 16:39; city (cities) Isaiah 14:17; 2 Samuel 11:25; 2 Kings 3:25; 1 Chronicles 20:1 (compare MI27) Malachi 1:4 (object not expressed); wall(s) Ezekiel 13:14; Ezekiel 26:12; house Proverbs 14:1 (figurative of foolish woman's action); strongholds (מִבְצָרִים) Lamentations 2:2; Micah 5:10; tower(s) Ezekiel 26:4; figurative overthrow (i.e. ruin) land Proverbs 29:4 (opposed to יַעֲמִיד); object men Exodus 15:7 (poem in E) Isaiah 22:19 (cast down Shebna from office); figurative, opposed to building up, of Yahweh's dealings with men Psalm 28:5, compare (without object) Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 42:10; object indefinite אשׁר בָּנִיתִי אֲנִי הֹרֵס Jeremiah 45:4; absolute Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 31:28; Lamentations 2:17; Job 12:14.

2 break down, break away שִׁנֵּימוֺ בְּפִימוֺ ׳ה Psalm 58:7 break away their teeth in their mouth! figurative, addressed to God.

3 break through, intransitive, followed by ׳אֶליֿ Exodus 19:21; followed by ׳לַעֲלֹת אֶליֿ, Exodus 19:24 (both J).

Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נֶהֱרָ֑סָה Proverbs 24:31; 3plural נֶהֶרְסוּ Jeremiah 50:15; Joel 1:17; וְנֶהֶרְסוּ consecutive Ezekiel 30:4; Ezekiel 38:20; Imperfect יֵהָרֵס Jeremiah 31:40; 3feminine singular תֵּהָרֵס Proverbs 11:11; יֵהָרֵס֑וּן Psalm 11:3; Participle הַנֶּהֱרָסוֺת Ezekiel 36:35,36; — be thrown or torn down; wall(s) of vineyard Proverbs 24:31, of city Jeremiah 50:15; cities Ezekiel 36:35 compare Ezekiel 36:36; figurative ruined Proverbs 11:11 (opposed to תָּרוּם); foundations, יְסוֺדֹת Ezekiel 30:4; שָׁתוֺת Psalm 11:3; mountains Ezekiel 38:20; storehouses מַמְּגֻרוֺת Joel 1:17 [see ׳מ]; valley east of Jerusalem לֹאיִֿנָּתֵשׁ וְלֹאיֵֿהָרֵס Jeremiah 31:40 it shall not be plucked up nor thrown down, apparently proverb. expression, implying destruction, removal.

Pi`el Imperfect2masculine singular suffix תְּהָֽרְסֵם Exodus 23:24; Infinitive absolute הָרֵס Exodus 23:24; Participle plural suffix מְהָֽרְסַיִךְ Isaiah 49:17; — overthrow, tear down הָרֵס תְּהָֽרְסֵם Exodus 23:24 thou shalt utterly tear them down (J E; object = idols compare Di); participle destroyers, of Zion Isaiah 49:17 ("" מַחֲרִיבַיִךְ).

Topical Lexicon
Root Concept

הָרַס portrays an aggressive act of tearing down, demolishing, or overthrowing something that already exists. Whether the object is a house, altar, city wall, or even the very foundations of the earth, the verb consistently signals decisive, often violent removal. Because the Old Testament never presents chaos as virtuous, every instance either exposes human rebellion against God’s order or displays God’s holy zeal to cleanse, judge, and ultimately rebuild.

Cultic Purging of Idolatry

Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3 mandate Israel to “tear down” pagan altars, smash pillars, and burn Asherah poles. Haras here underscores covenant loyalty: God’s people cannot coexist with rival worship structures.
• Gideon obeys this command generations later (Judges 6:25–30), demolishing Baal’s altar and cutting down the Asherah beside it, igniting revival and confrontation.
• The kings who instituted reform—Asa (2 Chronicles 14:3), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4), Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:4–7)—all “broke down” idolatrous high places. The verb frames their reforms as covenant renewal rather than mere political housecleaning.

Divine Judgment on Nations and Cities

• When Abraham’s descendants disobey, haras becomes the Lord’s instrument against them: “The LORD sent a pestilence on Israel… the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 24:15–16).
• Prophets apply haras to foreign powers as well: “Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city” (Isaiah 17:1); “Babylon… I will make it an everlasting desolation” (Jeremiah 51:26).
Ezekiel 26–27 uses it repeatedly for Tyre. God’s sovereignty over history includes the demolition of arrogant cultures.

Covenantal Discipline and Restoration

Haras is never the last word. In Isaiah 58:12 the prophet looks forward to “the ancient ruins” being rebuilt. Amos 9:11–15 promises restoration of “the booth of David that has fallen.” Judgment demolishes what is corrupt so that God may rebuild what is pure. The verb therefore serves redemptive purposes.

Liturgical and Wisdom Imagery

Psalm 11:3: “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The psalmist’s lament turns haras into a metaphor for moral collapse.
Psalm 52:5 contrasts the violent man’s tearing down with God’s ultimate uprooting of evil: “Surely God will bring you down forever.”
Proverbs 14:1: “The foolish woman tears down her house with her own hands.” Here the verb moves from literal demolition to self-destructive folly.

Prophetic and Eschatological Horizons

Isaiah 24:19–20 depicts the earth itself “broken apart… split open” in cosmic judgment, pointing forward to New Testament language about heavens passing away. Micah 5:11 foresees the Messiah eliminating military reliance by “tearing down” strongholds. Thus haras anticipates the day when every idolatrous and humanly engineered refuge is removed so that the kingdom of God alone stands.

Christological Reflections

Jesus echoes haras theology when He prophesies the Temple’s destruction (Matthew 24:2) and speaks of the tearing down of His own body-temple (John 2:19). The physical tearing down of the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70 validates both Old Covenant warnings and New Covenant fulfillment: judgment clears the ground for the once-for-all sacrifice and the living temple of the Church.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Spiritual Reformation: Like Gideon and Josiah, believers must identify and demolish modern idols—anything rivalling Christ’s supremacy.
2. Discipleship: Churches may need to “tear down” entrenched traditions that obscure the gospel, trusting the Spirit to rebuild in holiness.
3. Counseling: Haras reminds the broken that God sometimes allows the demolition of false securities in order to establish lasting foundations in Christ.
4. Preaching: Passages employing haras provide sobering warnings yet hopeful vistas—judgment is real, but so is restoration for the repentant.

Representative Occurrences

Leviticus 14:45; Deuteronomy 7:5; Judges 6:30; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Kings 15:22; 2 Kings 11:18; 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chronicles 34:7; Psalm 11:3; Psalm 52:5; Proverbs 14:1; Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 17:1; Isaiah 24:19; Jeremiah 1:10; Ezekiel 26:4; Micah 5:11; Amos 9:11.

Across its roughly forty-three occurrences, הָרַס unfailingly testifies that whatever stands opposed to God—whether idol, institution, or ideology—will eventually be torn down so that His righteous kingdom may endure forever.

Forms and Transliterations
אֶהֱר֑וֹס אֶהֱרֹ֔ס אהרוס אהרס הֲרָס־ הֶהָרֽוּס׃ הַנֶּ֣הֱרָס֔וֹת הָרֵס֙ הָרַ֖ס הָרַ֧ס הָרָ֑ס הָרָ֔סוּ הֹרֵ֔ס ההרוס׃ הנהרסות הרס הרס־ הרסו וְהַנֶּהֱרָס֖וֹת וְהָ֨רַסְתִּ֜י וְהָֽרְסוּ֙ וְהָרְס֤וּ וְהָרְסָ֖הּ וְהָרַסְתִּ֖י וְהָרַסְתָּ֗ וְלַהֲר֑וֹס וְלַהֲרֹ֖ס וְנֶהֶרְס֖וּ וְנֶהֶרְס֣וּ וַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָ׃ והנהרסות והרסה והרסו והרסת והרסתי ויהרסה׃ ולהרוס ולהרס ונהרסו יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן יֵהָרֵ֛ס יֶ֝הֶרְסֵ֗ם יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ יֶֽהֶרְסֶֽנָּה׃ יֶהֶרְס֤וּ יֶהֶרְסֶֽךָ׃ יַ֭הֲרוֹס יַהֲרֹ֡סוּ יהרוס יהרס יהרסו יהרסון יהרסך׃ יהרסם יהרסנה׃ מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ מהרסיך נֶהֱרָֽסָה׃ נֶהֶרְס֖וּ נהרסה׃ נהרסו תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם תֵּהָרֵֽס׃ תֶהֶרְסֶֽנּוּ׃ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס תהרס תהרס׃ תהרסם תהרסנו׃ ’e·hĕ·rō·ws ’e·hĕ·rōs ’ehĕrōs ’ehĕrōws eheRos hā·rā·sū hā·ras hā·rās hă·rās- hā·rês han·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯ hanNeheraSot hannehĕrāsōwṯ haRas hāras hārās hărās- haRasu hārāsū haRes hārês haros he·hā·rūs hehaRus hehārūs hō·rês hoRes hōrês mə·hā·rə·sa·yiḵ mehareSayich məhārəsayiḵ ne·hĕ·rā·sāh ne·her·sū neheRasah nehĕrāsāh neherSu nehersū ta·hă·rōs tahaRos tahărōs tə·hā·rə·sêm tê·hā·rês ṯe·her·sen·nū tehaRes têhārês teHareSem təhārəsêm teherSennu ṯehersennū vaiYeherSeha vehanneheraSot veharasTa veHarasTi vehareSah vehareSu velahaRos veneherSu way·ye·her·se·hā wayyehersehā wə·hā·ras·tā wə·hā·ras·tî wə·hā·rə·sāh wə·hā·rə·sū wə·han·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯ wə·la·hă·rō·ws wə·la·hă·rōs wə·ne·her·sū wəhannehĕrāsōwṯ wəhārastā wəhārastî wəhārəsāh wəhārəsū wəlahărōs wəlahărōws wənehersū ya·hă·rō·sū ya·hă·rō·ws Yaharos yahaRosu yahărōsū yahărōws yê·hā·rê·sūn yê·hā·rês ye·her·se·ḵā ye·her·sêm ye·her·sen·nāh ye·her·sū yehaRes yêhārês yehareSun yêhārêsūn yeherSecha yeherseḵā yeherSem yehersêm YeherSennah yehersennāh yeherSu yehersū
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 15:7
HEB: וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙
NAS: of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise
KJV: of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against
INT: the greatness of your excellence overthrow rise send

Exodus 19:21
HEB: בָּעָ֑ם פֶּן־ יֶהֶרְס֤וּ אֶל־ יְהוָה֙
NAS: so that they do not break through to the LORD
KJV: the people, lest they break through unto the LORD
INT: the people so break to the LORD

Exodus 19:24
HEB: וְהָעָ֗ם אַל־ יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ לַעֲלֹ֥ת אֶל־
NAS: and the people break through to come
KJV: and the people break through to come up
INT: and the people nay break to come to

Exodus 23:24
HEB: כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כִּ֤י הָרֵס֙ תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר
NAS: according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow
KJV: after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow
INT: to their deeds for shall utterly overthrow and break

Exodus 23:24
HEB: כִּ֤י הָרֵס֙ תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר
NAS: but you shall utterly overthrow them and break
KJV: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite
INT: for shall utterly overthrow and break pieces

Judges 6:25
HEB: שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וְהָרַסְתָּ֗ אֶת־ מִזְבַּ֤ח
NAS: years old, and pull down the altar
KJV: years old, and throw down the altar
INT: seven years and pull the altar of Baal

2 Samuel 11:25
HEB: אֶל־ הָעִ֛יר וְהָרְסָ֖הּ וְחַזְּקֵֽהוּ׃
NAS: stronger and overthrow it'; and [so] encourage
KJV: against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage
INT: against the city and overthrow stronger

1 Kings 18:30
HEB: מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה הֶהָרֽוּס׃
NAS: of the LORD which had been torn down.
KJV: of the LORD [that was] broken down.
INT: the altar of the LORD had been torn

1 Kings 19:10
HEB: אֶת־ מִזְבְּחֹתֶ֣יךָ הָרָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־ נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ
NAS: Your covenant, torn down Your altars
KJV: thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
INT: of Israel your altars torn your prophets and killed

1 Kings 19:14
HEB: אֶת־ מִזְבְּחֹתֶ֣יךָ הָרָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־ נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ
NAS: Your covenant, torn down Your altars
KJV: thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
INT: of Israel your altars torn your prophets and killed

2 Kings 3:25
HEB: וְהֶעָרִ֣ים יַהֲרֹ֡סוּ וְכָל־ חֶלְקָ֣ה
NAS: Thus they destroyed the cities;
KJV: And they beat down the cities,
INT: the cities destroyed every piece

1 Chronicles 20:1
HEB: אֶת־ רַבָּ֖ה וַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָ׃
NAS: struck Rabbah and overthrew it.
KJV: smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
INT: and Joab Rabbah and overthrew

Job 12:14
HEB: הֵ֣ן יַ֭הֲרוֹס וְלֹ֣א יִבָּנֶ֑ה
NAS: Behold, He tears down, and it cannot
KJV: Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again:
INT: Behold tears cannot be rebuilt

Psalm 11:3
HEB: כִּ֣י הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן צַ֝דִּ֗יק מַה־
NAS: the foundations are destroyed, What
KJV: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous
INT: If the foundations are destroyed the righteous What

Psalm 28:5
HEB: מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדָ֑יו יֶ֝הֶרְסֵ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יִבְנֵֽם׃
NAS: of His hands, He will tear them down and not build
KJV: of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
INT: the deeds of his hands will tear Nor build

Psalm 58:6
HEB: אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים הֲרָס־ שִׁנֵּ֥ימוֹ בְּפִ֑ימוֹ
NAS: O God, shatter their teeth
KJV: Break their teeth, O God,
INT: God shatter their teeth their mouth

Proverbs 11:11
HEB: וּבְפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תֵּהָרֵֽס׃
NAS: of the wicked it is torn down.
KJV: is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth
INT: the mouth of the wicked is torn

Proverbs 14:1
HEB: וְ֝אִוֶּ֗לֶת בְּיָדֶ֥יהָ תֶהֶרְסֶֽנּוּ׃
NAS: But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
KJV: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
INT: the foolish hands tears

Proverbs 24:31
HEB: וְגֶ֖דֶר אֲבָנָ֣יו נֶהֱרָֽסָה׃
NAS: And its stone wall was broken down.
KJV: wall thereof was broken down.
INT: wall stone was broken

Proverbs 29:4
HEB: וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּרוּמ֣וֹת יֶֽהֶרְסֶֽנָּה׃
NAS: who takes bribes overthrows it.
KJV: that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
INT: A man who overthrows

Isaiah 14:17
HEB: כַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְעָרָ֣יו הָרָ֑ס אֲסִירָ֖יו לֹא־
NAS: like a wilderness And overthrew its cities,
KJV: as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities
INT: A wilderness cities and overthrew his prisoners did not

Isaiah 22:19
HEB: מִמַּצָּבֶ֑ךָ וּמִמַּעֲמָֽדְךָ֖ יֶהֶרְסֶֽךָ׃
NAS: you from your office, And I will pull you down from your station.
KJV: and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
INT: your office your station will pull

Isaiah 49:17
HEB: מִֽהֲר֖וּ בָּנָ֑יִךְ מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ וּמַחֲרִבַ֖יִךְ מִמֵּ֥ךְ
NAS: hurry; Your destroyers and devastators
KJV: shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste
INT: hurry your builders your destroyers and devastators at

Jeremiah 1:10
HEB: וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וְלַהֲר֑וֹס לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃
NAS: To destroy and to overthrow, To build
KJV: and to destroy, and to throw down, to build,
INT: break to destroy overthrow to build plant

Jeremiah 24:6
HEB: וּבְנִיתִים֙ וְלֹ֣א אֶהֱרֹ֔ס וּנְטַעְתִּ֖ים וְלֹ֥א
NAS: and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant
KJV: and I will build them, and not pull [them] down; and I will plant
INT: will build and not overthrow will plant and not

43 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2040
43 Occurrences


’e·hĕ·rōs — 3 Occ.
han·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
hā·rās — 3 Occ.
hā·rā·sū — 2 Occ.
hā·rês — 1 Occ.
hă·rās- — 1 Occ.
he·hā·rūs — 1 Occ.
hō·rês — 1 Occ.
mə·hā·rə·sa·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
ne·hĕ·rā·sāh — 1 Occ.
ne·her·sū — 2 Occ.
ta·hă·rōs — 1 Occ.
tê·hā·rês — 1 Occ.
tə·hā·rə·sêm — 1 Occ.
ṯe·her·sen·nū — 1 Occ.
way·ye·her·se·hā — 1 Occ.
wə·han·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·ras·tā — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·ras·tî — 2 Occ.
wə·hā·rə·sāh — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·rə·sū — 3 Occ.
wə·la·hă·rō·ws — 2 Occ.
wə·ne·her·sū — 2 Occ.
ya·hă·rō·ws — 1 Occ.
ya·hă·rō·sū — 1 Occ.
yê·hā·rês — 1 Occ.
yê·hā·rê·sūn — 1 Occ.
ye·her·se·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ye·her·sêm — 1 Occ.
ye·her·sen·nāh — 1 Occ.
ye·her·sū — 2 Occ.

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