H2564 H2564
bitumen, asphalt, tar (natural petroleum product)
Natural asphalt or bitumen used for waterproofing and construction. This substance was particularly abundant in Mesopotamia and the Dead Sea region. Genesis describes its use as mortar in building the Tower of Babel and its availability in the valley of Siddim. Exodus mentions it as a coating material (along with pitch) for the basket that held baby Moses, protecting him from water. The term refers to a naturally occurring petroleum product that hardens and provides excellent sealing properties.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Bitumen or asphalt used for construction and waterproofing. Genesis 11:3 records builders using bitumen instead of mortar for Babel's tower. Genesis 14:10 notes that the valley of Siddim had bitumen pits, creating hazards during battle. Exodus 2:3 describes Moses' mother coating his basket 'with bitumen and pitch' for waterproofing. Cross-linguistic renderings (Spanish betún/asfalto, French bitume, German Erdpech 'earth pitch') all identify this natural tar-like substance used throughout the ancient Near East. 3×
AR["بِ-الْحُمَرِ", "حُمَرٍ", "وَ-الْ-حُمَرُ"]·ben["আর-আলকাতরা", "আলকাতরায়", "আলকাতরার"]·DE["mit-Erdpech", "und-das-Erdpech", "von-Erdpech"]·EN["and-the-bitumen", "bitumen", "with-bitumen"]·FR["avec-bitume", "bitume", "et-le-bitume"]·heb["ב-חמר", "ו-ה-חמר", "חמר"]·HI["और-गर", "गरे-के", "गारा"]·ID["aspal", "dan-aspal", "dengan-ter"]·IT["bitume", "con-bitume", "e-il-bitume"]·jav["aspal", "kanthi-tèr", "lan-tèr"]·KO["그리고-발랐다", "그리고-역청이", "역청의"]·PT["betume", "com-betume", "e-o-betume"]·RU["и-смола", "смолой", "смоляные"]·ES["asfalto", "con-el-betún", "y-el-asfalto"]·SW["kwa-lami", "na-lami", "ya-lami"]·TR["ve--zıft", "ziftle", "zıft"]·urd["اور-گارا", "گارے-سے", "گارے-کے"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† חֵמָר n.[m.] bitumen, asphalt (from I. חמר according to OBlauZMG 1869, 279, bitumen as seething, swelling up; Thes MV, from IV. חמר, with ref. to reddish-brown colour)—חֵמָר Gn 11:3 + 2 times; used for cement in building Babel Gn 11:3 (J); abounding in vale of Siddim בֶּאֱרֹת בֶּאֱרֹת ח׳ Gn 14:10; used in coating Moses’ ‘ark’ of bulrushes Ex 2:3 (E; ‖ זָ֑פֶת).