H2457 H2457
rust, corrosion; scum or filth on a metal vessel, symbolizing Jerusalem's moral impurity
Appearing exclusively in Ezekiel 24:6-12, this noun describes the rust or corrosion encrusted on a cooking pot -- Ezekiel's vivid allegory for Jerusalem's bloodguilt and moral filth. The pot cannot be cleaned; its rust must be burned away in divine judgment. The term likely relates to a root meaning 'to be sick' or 'filthy,' connecting physical corrosion with spiritual contamination. Spanish 'escoria' (dross/slag) and French 'rouille' (rust) both capture the image of irreversible corruption that only fire can address.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Rust, corrosion, or encrusted filth on a metal cooking pot, used exclusively in Ezek 24:6-12 as a prophetic symbol of Jerusalem's irremovable bloodguilt. The word appears five times in a single oracle, intensifying the imagery of a city whose impurity cannot be scoured away. French 'rouille' (rust) and Spanish 'escoria' (dross) reflect the physical-metaphorical duality. The root connection to sickness or filth underscores that this is moral contamination manifesting as material decay. 5×
AR["صَدَأُهَا", "صَدَئِهَا", "وَصَدَأُهَا"]·ben["এবং-মরিচা-তার", "মরিচা-তার"]·DE["[וחלאתה]", "[חלאתה]"]·EN["and-its-rust", "her-rust", "its-rust", "rust"]·FR["et-sa-rouille", "sa-rouille"]·heb["ו-חלאתה", "חלאתה"]·ID["dan-karatnya", "karatnya"]·IT["e-la-sua-ruggine", "la-sua-ruggine"]·jav["karat-piyambakipun", "karat-piyambakipun.", "karatipun", "karatipun.", "lan-karatipun"]·KO["그것의-녹이", "그리고-그것의-녹이"]·PT["e-sua-ferrugem", "sua-ferrugem"]·RU["в-огне", "в-середине", "и-ржавчина", "ржавчина"]·ES["escoria-de-ella", "y-escoria-de-ella"]·SW["kutu-yake", "na-kutu-yake"]·TR["pası", "pasının", "ve-pası"]·urd["اور-زنگ-اُس-کا", "زنگ", "زنگ-اُس-کا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [חֶלְאָה] n.f. rust (perhaps as filth v. supr.)—חֶלְאָתָהּ Ez 24:6, 12 + v 11, 12 (del. Co intern. grounds) + v 6 חֶלְאָתָהֿ (cf. Ges§ 91, 1; R. 2) rust on metal pot, symbol of impurity of Jerusalem.