Original Word: חֶרֶשׁ
Part of Speech: noun masculine; adverb; noun masculine
Transliteration: cheresh
Pronunciation: kheh-resh
Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-resh)
Definition: magical craft, silence
Meaning: The term חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) primarily denotes magical craft or silence. It is associated with practices that involve secrecy or hidden arts, often linked to enchantment or sorcery.

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָרַשׁ (charash), which means to be silent or to practice secret arts.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • While there is no direct Greek equivalent for חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) in the Strong's Concordance, related concepts can be found in Greek terms associated with magic or sorcery, such as φαρμακεία (pharmakeia, Strong's Greek 5331), which refers to the use of drugs, potions, or spells, and is often translated as "sorcery" or "witchcraft" in the New Testament.

Usage: The word חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) is used in contexts that imply the practice of magic or sorcery, often in a negative light, as these practices are generally condemned in the Hebrew Bible.

Context: • The term חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that suggest the use of secretive or magical practices. It is often associated with activities that are hidden or done in silence, reflecting the clandestine nature of such practices.
• In the ancient Near Eastern context, magic and sorcery were common, but the Hebrew Bible consistently portrays these practices as contrary to the worship of Yahweh. The use of חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) in the biblical text underscores the tension between the worship of the God of Israel and the surrounding pagan practices.
• The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) translates חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) in a way that highlights its association with forbidden practices. For example, in passages where the term is used, it often appears in lists of activities that are prohibited for the Israelites, emphasizing the need for purity and devotion to God alone.
• The concept of silence associated with חֶרֶשׁ (cheresh) can also imply the absence of sound, which metaphorically extends to the idea of secrecy or hidden knowledge, often linked to the esoteric nature of magical practices.

I. חֶ֫רֶשׁ noun [masculine] as

adverb silently, secretly — ׳מְרַגְּלִים ח Joshua 2:1 (JE) exploring secretly.

III. חרשׁ (√ of following; meaning unknown).

II. חֶ֫רֶשׁ noun [masculine] magic art, or perhaps magic drug (Aramaic practise magic, חָרָשׁ, magician, incantation, magic art, preparation of magic potion, so Ethiopic one using incantations; incantation, magic; compare perhaps Arabic , a medicinal broth given to women in childbed; חֶרֶשׁ perhaps magical drug, see RS^{JPh xiv. 1885, 125}) — only חֲכַם חֲרָשִׁים Isaiah 3:3 skilled in magic arts, or drugs ("" נְבוֺן לָ֑חַשׁ), ( > others Generally = handicraft).

cunning, secretly

From charash; magical craft; also silence -- cunning, secretly.

see HEBREW charash

הַחֲרָשִֽׁים׃ החרשים׃ חֶ֣רֶשׁ חרש Cheresh ha·ḥă·rā·šîm hacharaShim haḥărāšîm ḥe·reš ḥerešInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts