2724. charabah
Strong's Lexicon
charabah: Dryness, desolation, waste

Original Word: חָרָבָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: charabah
Pronunciation: khaw-raw-baw'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-raw-baw')
Definition: Dryness, desolation, waste
Meaning: a desert

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָרֵב (charab), meaning "to be dry" or "to be desolate."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent in the Septuagint for "charabah," the concept of desolation can be found in Greek words such as ἔρημος (erēmos), meaning "desolate" or "wilderness."

Usage: The term "charabah" is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of dryness or desolation, often referring to land that is barren or uninhabited. It conveys the idea of a place that has been laid waste or is devoid of life and productivity. This word is frequently used in prophetic literature to depict the consequences of divine judgment or the aftermath of war and destruction.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, the concept of desolation was a powerful image, as the fertility of the land was crucial for survival. A "charabah" would signify not only physical barrenness but also spiritual and communal desolation. The Israelites, living in a land dependent on seasonal rains, understood the dire implications of a land turning into a "charabah." It was often seen as a sign of God's displeasure or a call to repentance.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chareb
Definition
dry ground
NASB Translation
dry (1), dry ground (4), dry land (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
חָֽרָבָה noun feminine dry ground; — absolute ׳ח Genesis 7:22 7t.; opposed to הַיָּם Exodus 14:21 (J), Haggai 2:6; compare Genesis 7:22 (J); opposed to water of Jordan Joshua 3:17 (twice in verse) (J), Joshua 4:18 (E), 2 Kings 2:8; of Nile-arms ׳וְנָתַתִּ֫י יְאֹרִים ח Ezekiel 30:12.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dry ground, land

Feminine of chareb; a desert -- dry (ground, land).

see HEBREW chareb

Forms and Transliterations
בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה בֶּחָֽרָבָ֖ה בֶּחָֽרָבָ֛ה בֶּחָרָבָֽה׃ בחרבה בחרבה׃ הֶחָרָבָ֑ה הֶחָרָבָֽה׃ החרבה החרבה׃ חָֽרָבָ֔ה חרבה לֶחָרָבָ֑ה לחרבה be·ḥā·rā·ḇāh becharaVah beḥārāḇāh charaVah ḥā·rā·ḇāh ḥārāḇāh he·ḥā·rā·ḇāh hecharaVah heḥārāḇāh le·ḥā·rā·ḇāh lecharaVah leḥārāḇāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 7:22
HEB: מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֶּחָֽרָבָ֖ה מֵֽתוּ׃
NAS: of all that was on the dry land, all
KJV: of life, of all that [was] in the dry [land], died.
INT: all whose the dry died

Exodus 14:21
HEB: אֶת־ הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם׃
NAS: the sea into dry land, so the waters
KJV: the sea dry [land], and the waters
INT: and turned the sea dry were divided the waters

Joshua 3:17
HEB: בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֜ה בֶּחָֽרָבָ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן
NAS: stood firm on dry ground
KJV: firm on dry ground in the midst
INT: of the covenant of the LORD dry the middle of the Jordan

Joshua 3:17
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹֽבְרִים֙ בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: on dry ground in the middle
KJV: passed over on dry ground, until all the people
INT: Israel crossed ground against after

Joshua 4:18
HEB: הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֶ֖ל הֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֤בוּ מֵֽי־
NAS: were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters
KJV: were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters
INT: of the priests' to the dry returned the waters

2 Kings 2:8
HEB: וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בֶּחָרָבָֽה׃
NAS: of them crossed over on dry ground.
KJV: went over on dry ground.
INT: crossed the two dry

Ezekiel 30:12
HEB: וְנָתַתִּ֤י יְאֹרִים֙ חָֽרָבָ֔ה וּמָכַרְתִּ֥י אֶת־
NAS: the Nile canals dry And sell
KJV: the rivers dry, and sell
INT: will make the Nile dry and sell the land

Haggai 2:6
HEB: הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־ הֶחָרָבָֽה׃
NAS: the sea also and the dry land.
KJV: and the sea, and the dry [land];
INT: and the earth the sea and the dry

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2724
8 Occurrences


be·ḥā·rā·ḇāh — 4 Occ.
ḥā·rā·ḇāh — 1 Occ.
he·ḥā·rā·ḇāh — 2 Occ.
le·ḥā·rā·ḇāh — 1 Occ.















2723
Top of Page
Top of Page