Hebrew · H2026, G615 · unreviewed

הָרַג

To smite with deadly intent · to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

הָרַג H2026 to smite with deadly intent

Pronunciation hārag

Violent killing with intent to destroy; ranges from battlefield slaughter to judicial execution to murder

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ἀποκτείνω G615 to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy

Pronunciation apokteínō

To kill with finality; perfective aspect emphasizes complete destruction rather than mere wounding or attempt.

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What does הָרַג (harag) mean in the Bible?

הָרַג · ἀποκτείνω is a Hebrew word meaning "to slay or execute".

Full entry for הָרַג (H2026, G615) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to slay or execute

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 69×

Perfect 1Kgs 19:10 · 1Kgs 19:14 · 2Chr 23:17 · 2Kgs 11:18 · 2Sam 3:30 · 2Sam 4:11 · Esth 9:6 · Esth 9:10 · Esth 9:12 · Ezek 23:10 · Gen 34:26 · Gen 49:6 · Josh 10:11 · Josh 13:22 · Judg 7:25 · Neh 9:26 36×

Imperfect Ezek 26:8 · Ezek 26:11 · Isa 14:30 · Job 5:2 · Ps 10:8 · Ps 78:47 · 2Kgs 8:12 · Gen 20:4 · Amos 2:3 · Amos 9:1 · Ezek 9:6 · Lev 20:15 · Ezek 23:47 · Ps 94:6 · Gen 37:26 15×

Participle active 2Kgs 9:31 · 2Kgs 17:25 · Exod 4:23 · Ezek 21:16 · Gen 4:15 · Hos 9:13 · Num 31:19 7×

Sequential imperfect Num 25:5 · Num 31:17 · Judg 8:20 4×

Infinitive absolute Deut 13:10 · Isa 22:13 · Num 11:15 3×

Participle passive Isa 10:4 · Isa 14:19 · Jer 18:21 3×

Jussive Exod 23:7 1×

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 2×

Imperfect Ezek 26:6 · Lam 2:20 2×

Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×

Perfect Isa 27:7 1×

Qal passive 1×

Perfect Ps 44:23 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 73 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Perfect 37 Imperfect 18 Participle 7 Imperative 4 Infinitive absolute 3 Participle passive 3 Perfective 1

Stem

Qal 69 Niphal 2 Pual 1 Qal passive 1

Mood

Indicative 37 Indicative/jussive 14 Imperative 4 Indicative/cohortative 3 Jussive 1

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 21 — Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple Acts 23 — The Lord Stands Near Paul and Preserves His Witness John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Romans 7 — Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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