H2763a H2763a
to devote to destruction, utterly destroy under the ban; consecrate irrevocably to God
One of the most theologically charged verbs in the Hebrew Bible, rooted in the concept of the herem — the irrevocable setting apart of persons, cities, or property either for total destruction or for exclusive divine ownership. The Moabite Stone uses the same word for devoting a conquered city to Chemosh, revealing the practice's deep antiquity across Semitic culture. In holy-war contexts (Deut 2:34; Josh 6:21), it demands total annihilation as an act of obedience. Yet the same root in Leviticus 27:28 and Micah 4:13 describes consecrating wealth to the LORD — destruction and dedication converging in the single idea that what is devoted to God cannot return to common use.
Senses
1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) — The dominant Hifil active sense: to devote persons, cities, or nations to utter destruction under the ban (herem) as an act of divine judgment or holy war. Spanish destruir totalmente and French consacré à destruction both capture the totality. Numbers 21:2–3 records Israel's vow to 'utterly destroy' Canaanite cities, and Deuteronomy 2:34–3:6 chronicles the annihilation of Sihon and Og's kingdoms. 44×
AR["إِبَادَةً", "تُحَرِّمُ", "حَرَمَهُمْ", "حَرَّموا", "حَرَّمَ", "حَرَّمْنَا", "فَ-حَرَمَ", "وَ-حَرَّموا", "وَ-حَرَّموها", "وَ-حَرَّمَ", "وَ-حَرِّمُوا", "وَ-حَرِّمْ", "وَحَرَّمْنَا", "وَحَرَّمْنَاهَا"]·ben["এবং-তারা-ধ্বংস-করল", "এবং-ধ্বংস-করল", "এবং-ধ্বংসের-জন্য-উৎসর্গ-করলেন", "এবং-নির্মূল-করলাম", "এবং-সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস-কর", "এবং-সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস-করল", "তিনি-তাদেরকে-উৎসর্গ-করেছেন", "নির্মূল-করে", "সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস", "সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস-করল", "সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস-করলেন", "সম্পূর্ণরূপে-ধ্বংস", "সে-সম্পূর্ণ-ধ্বংস-করল"]·DE["[החרימם]", "devoting-zu-destruction", "er-devoted-zu-destruction", "er-geweiht-zu-destruction", "und-du-wird-devote-zu-destruction", "und-geweiht-zu-destruction", "und-sie-geweiht-zu-destruction", "und-wir-geweiht-zu-destruction", "utterly-destroying"]·EN["He-has-devoted-them-to-destruction", "and-devoted-to-destruction", "and-they-devoted-to-destruction", "and-we-devoted-to-destruction", "and-you-will-devote-to-destruction", "devoting-to-destruction", "he-devoted-to-destruction", "utterly-destroying"]·FR["devoting-à-destruction", "entièrement-détruisant", "et-consacré-à-destruction", "et-ils-voué-à-destruction", "et-nous-consacré-à-destruction", "et-tu-fera-devote-à-destruction", "et-voué-à-destruction", "il-dévoué-à-destruction", "il-voué-à-destruction", "vouer-à-la-destruction"]·heb["החרים", "החרימם", "החרם", "ו-החרים", "ו-החרימו", "ו-החרמת", "ו-החרמתם", "ו-יחרם", "ו-נחרם"]·HI["उसने-समर्पित-किया", "उस्ने-नशत-किय", "और-नशत-कर", "और-नशत-करो", "और-नष्ट-किया", "और-नाश-किया", "और-वह-समर्पित-किया", "नष्ट-करने-को", "नाश-किया", "समर्पित-करके", "समर्पित-करते-हुए", "समर्पित-करो", "समर्पित-किया"]·ID["Dan-kami-menumpas", "Dia-menumpas-mereka", "dan-kami-menumpas", "dan-menumpas", "dan-menumpas-merekaiah-mereka", "dan-menumpaskanlah", "dan-tumpaslah", "dengan-tumpas", "ditumpas", "ia-menumpas", "ia-tumpas", "menumpas"]·IT["devoting-a-destruction", "e-consacrato-a-destruction", "e-essi-consacrato-a-destruction", "e-noi-consacrato-a-destruction", "e-tu-vorrà-consacra-a-distruzione", "egli-consacrato-a-destruction", "egli-consacrato-a-distruzione", "utterly-destroying", "votare-allo-sterminio"]·jav["dhateng-panyembelihan", "kanthi-sirnakaken-saèstu", "lan-kita-numpes", "lan-ngrusak", "lan-numpes", "lan-nyirnakaken", "lan-panjenengan-numpes", "numpes", "piyambakipun-numpes", "sirnakaken"]·KO["그-진멸하여", "그가-완전히-멸하셨다", "그리고-그들이-진멸했다", "그리고-멸하였다", "그리고-우리가-완전히-멸하게-하였다", "그리고-우리가-진멸하였다", "그리고-진멸하라", "그리고-진멸하였다", "그리고-진멸했다", "멸하리라", "반드시", "진멸하여", "진멸하였다", "진멸했다"]·PT["E-devotaram-ao-cherem", "completamente-destruir", "destruindo", "destruindo-completamente", "destruiu", "devotou-os-à-destruição", "e-a-destruíram-completamente", "e-destruirás", "e-destruiu", "e-destruímos", "e-destruíram", "e-devotou-ao-herem", "¶ E-destruímos"]·RU["И-истребили-заклятием", "И-истребили-мы", "Он-обрёк-их-на-заклание", "заклятием", "заклятию-предай", "и-истребил", "и-истребили", "и-истребили-мы", "и-предай-заклятию", "и-предайте-заклятию", "и-предал-заклятию", "и-уничтожили", "истребив", "истребил", "истребил-заклятием", "истребили", "истребляя", "предал-заклятию"]·ES["destruir-totalmente", "destruyendo", "destruyeron", "destruyó", "destruyó-completamente", "los-ha-destruido-completamente", "y-destruimos", "y-destruirás-completamente", "y-destruiréis-completamente", "y-destruyeron", "y-destruyeron-por-completo", "y-destruyó", "y-las-destruimos", "y-lo-destruyeron"]·SW["Tukaiharibu", "aliangamiza", "alipoangamiza", "amewaangamiza", "hakika", "kuangamiza", "na-akaangamiza", "na-akaiangamiza", "na-akawaangamiza", "na-mwangamize-kabisa", "na-uwaangamize", "na-wakaangamiza", "na-wakauteketeza", "tukaharibu", "tukaiteketeza", "uiangamize-kabisa"]·TR["Ve-lanetlediler", "adadi-onlari", "lanetledi", "lanetleyerek", "tamamen-yok-etti", "ve-adadı", "ve-lanetledi", "ve-lanetlediler", "ve-tamamen-yok-edin", "ve-tamamen-yok-et", "ve-yok-ettik", "ve-yok-ettiler", "yok-ederek"]·urd["اور-حرام-کر", "اور-حرام-کرو", "اور-حرام-کیا", "اور-ہم-نے-تباہ-کیا", "اور-ہم-نے-حرام-کیا", "تباہ-کرتے-ہوئے", "حرام-ضرور-", "حرام-کر", "حرام-کر-دیا", "حرام-کر-کے", "حرام-کیا"]
Num 21:2, Num 21:3, Deut 2:34, Deut 3:6, Deut 3:6, Deut 7:2, Deut 7:2, Deut 13:15, Deut 20:17, Deut 20:17, Josh 2:10, Josh 6:21 (+32 more)
2. devote or consecrate to God — To consecrate or devote something irrevocably to the LORD as sacred property, the sacral rather than destructive face of herem. Spanish consagraré and French dévouer confirm the dedicatory sense. Leviticus 27:28 legislates what a person 'devotes' to God as most holy, and Micah 4:13 envisions Zion devoting the wealth of nations to the LORD of all the earth. 2×
AR["وَأُحَرِّمُ", "يُحَرِّمُ"]·ben["উৎসর্গ-করে", "এবং-তুমি-উৎসর্গ-করবে"]·DE["[והחרמתי]", "devotes"]·EN["and-I-will-devote", "devotes"]·FR["devotes", "et-dévouer"]·heb["ו-החרמתי", "יחרם"]·HI["और-समर्पित-करूंगी", "समर्पित करेगा"]·ID["dan-Aku-akan-mempersembahkan", "seseorang-mengutuk"]·IT["[והחרמתי]", "devotes"]·jav["lan-panjenengan-badhé-ngarak-aken", "tiyang-masrahaken"]·KO["그리고-바치리라", "봉헌하는"]·PT["devotará", "e-consagrarás"]·RU["заклянёт", "и-посвятишь"]·ES["consagrare", "y-consagraré"]·SW["ataiweka-wakfu", "na-utaweka-wakfu"]·TR["adak-ederse", "ve-adayacağım"]·urd["اور-حرام-کروں-گی", "حرام-کرے"]
3. sense 3 — A single Hifil occurrence at Isaiah 11:15 where the LORD will 'devote to destruction' — or more precisely 'dry up' / 'split' — the tongue of the Egyptian sea. Spanish destruirá and French vouer à la destruction support the destructive reading, though the context blends herem-annihilation with miraculous geographical transformation as God remakes the exodus route. 1×
AR["وَ-يُجَفِّفُ"]·ben["ও-তিনি-ধ্বংস-করবেন"]·DE["[והחרים]"]·EN["and-will-devote-to-destruction"]·FR["et-vouer-à-la-destruction"]·heb["ו-החרים"]·HI["और-सुखा-देगा"]·ID["Dan-mengeringkan"]·IT["e-votare-allo-sterminio"]·jav["Lan-Panjenenganipun-badhé-nggaringaken"]·KO["머리시리라"]·PT["E-destruirá"]·RU["и-поразит"]·ES["Y-destruirá"]·SW["Na-atakauka"]·TR["ve-kurutacak"]·urd["اور-خشک-کرے-گا"]
4. sense 4 — A warning at Joshua 6:18 against taking devoted things, lest the one who takes them 'devote to destruction' the camp of Israel — making the whole community liable to the ban. Spanish anatematicéis and French tu vouer à destruction convey the contagion of herem: contact with the banned object spreads the curse to the entire camp, as tragically demonstrated in Achan's story (Josh 7). 1×
AR["تُحَرِّموا"]·ben["ধ্বংসের-জন্য-উৎসর্গিত-করবে"]·DE["du-weihen-zu-destruction"]·EN["you-devote-to-destruction"]·FR["tu-vouer-à-destruction"]·heb["תחרימו"]·HI["शापित-करोगे"]·ID["kamu-mengkhususkan"]·IT["tu-devote-a-destruction"]·jav["sampeyan-mendhet"]·KO["저주하면"]·PT["devoteis-ao-cherem"]·RU["взяли-заклятое"]·ES["anatematicéis"]·SW["mkachukua-marufuku"]·TR["lanetlersiniz"]·urd["حرام-ٹھہراؤ"]
5. sense 5 — The Hofal passive at Exodus 22:20 declaring that anyone who sacrifices to gods other than the LORD 'shall be devoted to destruction.' Spanish será destruido and French doit être consacré à destruction convey the judicial death sentence. This is herem as divine law: idolatry places the offender under the ban that is normally reserved for Canaan's nations. 1×
AR["يُحرَمُ"]·ben["ধ্বংস-হবে"]·DE["soll-sein-geweiht-zu-destruction"]·EN["shall-be-devoted-to-destruction"]·FR["--être-consacré-à-destruction"]·heb["יחרם"]·HI["नाश-किया-जाए"]·ID["ia harus ditumpas"]·IT["shall-essere-devoted-a-destruction"]·jav["dipunbinasaken,"]·KO["멸할지니"]·PT["será-destruído"]·RU["да-будет-истреблён"]·ES["será-destruido"]·SW["atateketezwa"]·TR["yok-edilecek"]·urd["ہلاک-کیا-جائے"]
6. sense 6 — A Hofal passive at Leviticus 27:29 declaring that any person devoted to the ban cannot be ransomed but 'shall surely be put to death.' Spanish fuere consagrado and French devra être consacré preserve the sacral-juridical force. This verse establishes the irreversibility of herem applied to persons — once devoted, no redemption price avails. 1×
AR["يُحَرَّمُ"]·ben["উৎসর্গ-হয়"]·DE["soll-sein-geweiht"]·EN["shall-be-devoted"]·FR["devra-être-consacré"]·heb["יחרם"]·HI["समर्पित किया जाए"]·ID["dikutuk"]·IT["dovra-essere-consacrato"]·jav["dipun-pasrahaken"]·KO["봉헌되는"]·PT["for-devotado"]·RU["будет-заклято"]·ES["fuere-consagrado"]·SW["imewekwa-wakfu"]·TR["adak-edilmiş"]·urd["حرام-کیا-جائے"]
7. sense 7 — A Hofal usage at Ezra 10:8 where the post-exilic assembly decrees that anyone who fails to appear within three days shall have his property 'devoted' — confiscated and forfeited. Spanish sería confiscada shifts the sense toward property seizure. Here herem has evolved from holy-war annihilation to communal discipline: forfeiture of goods and exclusion from the congregation, foreshadowing later Aramaic and Syriac excommunication practices. 1×
AR["يُحَرَّمُ"]·ben["অভিশপ্ত-হবে"]·DE["[יחרם]"]·EN["will-be-devoted-to-destruction"]·FR["[יחרם]"]·heb["יחרם"]·HI["जब्त-होगी"]·ID["biarlah-ditumpas"]·IT["[יחרם]"]·jav["badhe-dipunpasrahaken"]·KO["몰수될것이다"]·PT["seria-confiscado"]·RU["будет-заклят"]·ES["sería-confiscada"]·SW["mali-yake-itataifishwa"]·TR["haram-olacak"]·urd["حرام-کِیا-جائےگا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [חָרַם] vb.Hiph. ban, devote, exterminate (MI17 החרמתה of devoting, dedicating a city to Chemosh, in cl. with כי explaining massacre of all inhabitants; the altar-hearth of י׳ there was dragged before Chemosh; حَرُمَ be prohibited, forbidden, unlawful, become sacred; ii. make, pronounce sacred, inviolable; Ethiopic ሐረመ prohibit from common use, consecrate to God, esteem unlawful; Palm. חרם =…