2764. cherem
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. חֵ֫רֶם noun masculineLeviticus 27:28

1 devoted thing.

2 devotion, ban; — ׳ח absolute Joshua 6:17 24t. (most read חֶרֶם Zechariah 14:11, Baer חֵרֶם); חֶ֑רֶם Joshua 7:1; suffix חֶרְמִי 1 Kings 20:42; Isaiah 34:5; — thing devoted to ׳י:

1 thing hostile to theocracy, and therefore (in the strictest application) to be either destroyed, or, in the case of certain objects (e.g. silver and gold, vessels of brass and iron Joshua 6:19,24), set apart to sacred uses; especially

a. of a Canaan. city, as Jericho, including all inhabitants (except Rahab's family) and spoil Joshua 6:17,18 (twice in verse); Joshua 7:1,11,15; Achan by taking מִןהַֿחֵרֶם made (camp of) Israel ׳ח Joshua 7:12; compare Joshua 6:18, and became himself ׳ח, and was stoned and, with his family and possessions, including the spoil, was burnt Joshua 7:1,11,12,13 (twice in verse) (all J E except Joshua 7:1 P; compare Joshua 7:15; Joshua 7:24; Joshua 7:25); ׳מָעַל מַעַל בַּח committed unfaithfulness in the matter of the devoted thing is term for the sin Joshua 7:1; Joshua 22:20 (both P), compare ׳מָעַל בַּח 1 Chronicles 2:7; Saul and Israel spared Agag king of Amalek and ׳רֵאשִׁית הַח i.e. of the spoil (sheep and oxen), which should have been utterly destroyed 1 Samuel 15:21 (compare 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 15:8; Saul rejected by ׳י for this 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 15:26); so an idolatrous city in Israel should become ׳ח, with all its contents, and be utterly destroyed Deuteronomy 13:17 (compare Deuteronomy 13:13; Deuteronomy 13:15; Deuteronomy 13:16).

b. of individuals, one having relic of Canaanit. god in his house should become ׳ח, the relic being ׳ח Deuteronomy 7:26 (twice in verse); every human being who became ׳ח should be killed Leviticus 27:29 (twice in verse) (P; see Di).

2 apparently (so Di) anything devoted to sanctuary under specially stringent conditions Leviticus 27:28 (see Di; and compare Ezra 10:8); a field consecrated to ׳י becomes under certain conditions ׳כִּשְׂדֵה הַח Leviticus 27:21; every ׳ח is קֹדֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁים ליהוה Leviticus 27:28, and no ׳ח that a manmay devote, whether man, beast or field, may be sold or redeemed Leviticus 27:28; every such ׳ח (as in case of metals and metal objects Joshua 6:17,19) went to Aaron and his sons Numbers 18:14 (P), to Zadokite priests Ezekiel 44:29.

3 devotion, ban, involving destruction; אִישׁ חֶרְמִי 1 Kings 20:42 man under my (׳י's) ban (of Benhadad); עַם חֶרְמִי Isaiah 34:5 (of Edom); ׳נתן לַח Isaiah 43:28 figurative of ׳יs giving over Judah to Chaldaea; ׳ח not to be in future Zechariah 14:11; ׳מֶּןאָֿבוֺא וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶתהָֿאָרֶץ ח Malachi 3:24 smite the land with a ban, i.e. utterly destroy it.

II. חֵ֫רֶם noun masculine net (as something perforated; compare Arabic perforated work, Fl in NHWBii, 208; Late Hebrew חֵרֶם net; Phoenician חרם maker of nets) — absolute ׳ח Micah 7:2; suffix חֶרְמִי Ezekiel 32:3, חֶרְמוֺ Habakkuk 1:15,16,17; plural חֲרָמִים Ecclesiastes 7:26; Ezekiel 26:5,14; Ezekiel 47:10; — hunter's net Micah 7:2; Ecclesiastes 7:26; fisherman's net Ezekiel 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}; from charam; 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 HEBREW charam

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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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 27:21
HEB: לַֽיהוָ֖ה כִּשְׂדֵ֣ה הַחֵ֑רֶם לַכֹּהֵ֖ן תִּהְיֶ֥ה
NAS: like a field set apart; it shall be for the priest
KJV: as a field devoted; the possession
INT: to the LORD A field set the priest become

Leviticus 27:28
HEB: אַךְ־ כָּל־ חֵ֡רֶם אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַחֲרִם֩
NAS: Anything devoted to destruction
KJV: Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man
INT: Nevertheless anything devoted which sets

Leviticus 27:28
HEB: יִגָּאֵ֑ל כָּל־ חֵ֕רֶם קֹֽדֶשׁ־ קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
KJV: or redeemed: every devoted thing [is] most
INT: redeemed Anything devoted is most holy

Leviticus 27:29
HEB: כָּל־ חֵ֗רֶם אֲשֶׁ֧ר יָחֳרַ֛ם
KJV: None devoted, which shall be devoted
INT: one devoted who may have been set

Numbers 18:14
HEB: כָּל־ חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְךָ֥
NAS: Every devoted thing in Israel
KJV: Every thing devoted in Israel
INT: Every devoted Israel become

Deuteronomy 7:26
HEB: בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ וְהָיִ֥יתָ חֵ֖רֶם כָּמֹ֑הוּ שַׁקֵּ֧ץ ׀
NAS: it come under the ban;
KJV: into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: [but] thou shalt utterly
INT: your house come under and like shall utterly

Deuteronomy 7:26
HEB: תְּֽתַעֲבֶ֖נּוּ כִּי־ חֵ֥רֶם הֽוּא׃ פ
NAS: under the ban; you shall utterly
KJV: abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.
INT: abhor for the ban he

Deuteronomy 13:17
HEB: מְא֖וּמָה מִן־ הַחֵ֑רֶם לְמַעַן֩ יָשׁ֨וּב
NAS: Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling
KJV: nought of the cursed thing to thine hand:
INT: nought that which order may turn

Joshua 6:17
HEB: וְהָיְתָ֨ה הָעִ֥יר חֵ֛רֶם הִ֥יא וְכָל־
NAS: The city shall be under the ban, it and all
KJV: And the city shall be accursed, [even] it, and all that [are] therein, to the LORD:
INT: become the city shall be under it and all

Joshua 6:18
HEB: שִׁמְר֣וּ מִן־ הַחֵ֔רֶם פֶּֽן־ תַּחֲרִ֖ימוּ
NAS: keep yourselves from the things under
KJV: keep [yourselves] from the accursed thing, lest ye make [yourselves] accursed,
INT: keep some the things so covet

Joshua 6:18
HEB: וּלְקַחְתֶּ֣ם מִן־ הַחֵ֑רֶם וְשַׂמְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־
NAS: yourselves from the things under the ban,
KJV: when ye take of the accursed thing, and make
INT: and take some under and make the camp

Joshua 6:18
HEB: מַחֲנֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְחֵ֔רֶם וַעֲכַרְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתֽוֹ׃
NAS: under the ban, so
KJV: of Israel a curse, and trouble
INT: the camp of Israel the ban and bring

Joshua 7:1
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מַ֖עַל בַּחֵ֑רֶם וַיִּקַּ֡ח עָכָ֣ן
NAS: unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban,
KJV: a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan,
INT: of Israel unfaithfully to the things took Achan

Joshua 7:1
HEB: יְהוּדָה֙ מִן־ הַחֵ֔רֶם וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֥ף
NAS: in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan,
KJV: took of the accursed thing: and the anger
INT: of Judah some under burned the anger

Joshua 7:11
HEB: לָֽקְחוּ֙ מִן־ הַחֵ֔רֶם וְגַ֤ם גָּֽנְבוּ֙
NAS: some of the things under the ban and have both
KJV: them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen,
INT: taken some of the things both stolen

Joshua 7:12
HEB: כִּ֥י הָי֖וּ לְחֵ֑רֶם לֹ֤א אוֹסִיף֙
NAS: for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore
KJV: their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more,
INT: for have become accursed not anymore

Joshua 7:12
HEB: לֹ֥א תַשְׁמִ֛ידוּ הַחֵ֖רֶם מִֽקִּרְבְּכֶֽם׃
NAS: you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.
KJV: ye destroy the accursed from among
INT: not destroy the things your midst

Joshua 7:13
HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל חֵ֤רֶם בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
NAS: has said, There are things under the ban
KJV: of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst
INT: the God of Israel are things your midst Israel

Joshua 7:13
HEB: עַד־ הֲסִירְכֶ֥ם הַחֵ֖רֶם מִֽקִּרְבְּכֶֽם׃
NAS: There are things under the ban in your midst,
KJV: until ye take away the accursed thing from among
INT: until have removed under your midst

Joshua 7:15
HEB: וְהָיָה֙ הַנִּלְכָּ֣ד בַּחֵ֔רֶם יִשָּׂרֵ֣ף בָּאֵ֔שׁ
NAS: It shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned
KJV: And it shall be, [that] he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt
INT: become is taken the things shall be burned fire

Joshua 22:20
HEB: מָ֤עַל מַ֙עַל֙ בַּחֵ֔רֶם וְעַֽל־ כָּל־
NAS: unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath
KJV: a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath
INT: act unfaithfully the things on all

1 Samuel 15:21
HEB: וּבָקָ֖ר רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַחֵ֑רֶם לִזְבֹּ֛חַ לַֽיהוָ֥ה
NAS: the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice
KJV: the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice
INT: and oxen the choicest of the things to sacrifice to the LORD

1 Kings 20:42
HEB: אֶת־ אִישׁ־ חֶרְמִ֖י מִיָּ֑ד וְהָיְתָ֤ה
NAS: the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life
KJV: a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life
INT: have let the man had devoted of hand shall go

1 Chronicles 2:7
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָעַ֖ל בַּחֵֽרֶם׃ ס
NAS: who violated the ban.
KJV: who transgressed in the thing accursed.
INT: who violated the ban

Ecclesiastes 7:26
HEB: הִ֨יא מְצוֹדִ֧ים וַחֲרָמִ֛ים לִבָּ֖הּ אֲסוּרִ֣ים
NAS: is snares and nets, whose hands
KJV: [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands
INT: he is snares and nets heart are chains

38 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2764
38 Occurrences


ba·ḥê·rem — 4 Occ.
bə·ḥer·mî — 1 Occ.
ḥă·rā·mîm — 2 Occ.
ḥê·rem — 1 Occ.
ḥê·rem — 10 Occ.
ḥer·mî — 2 Occ.
ḥer·mōw — 1 Occ.
ha·ḥê·rem — 9 Occ.
la·ḥă·rā·mîm — 1 Occ.
la·ḥê·rem — 1 Occ.
lə·ḥê·rem — 2 Occ.
lə·ḥer·mōw — 1 Occ.
wa·ḥă·rā·mîm — 1 Occ.
wə·ḥê·rem — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ḥer·mōw — 1 Occ.
















2763b
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