What does הָרַס (tehares) mean in the Bible?
הָרַס (tehares): Destruction through violent dismantling, often structural ruin; God's judgment tool against buildings, altars, and idolatrous systems.
Hebrew · H2040
הָרַס
To pull down or in pieces, break , destroy
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הָרַסH2040
Pronunciationtehares
What does הָרַס (tehares) mean in the Bible?
הָרַס (tehares): Destruction through violent dismantling, often structural ruin; God's judgment tool against buildings, altars, and idolatrous systems.
Full entry for הָרַס (H2040) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2040?
The BSB source-word alignment has 43 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and destroyed (2), are torn down (2), torn down (2), will demolish (2), . . . (1).
Where does הָרַס (tehares) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 15:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (8), Jeremiah (7), Exodus (5), Proverbs (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand destroyed2×Isaiah 14:17, Ezekiel 36:35
are torn down2×Jeremiah 50:15, Ezekiel 30:4
torn down2×1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:14
will demolish2×Jeremiah 45:4, Malachi 1:4
. . .1×Exodus 23:24
and demolish1×Ezekiel 26:4
and demolish it1×2 Samuel 11:25
and demolished it1×1 Chronicles 20:1
and overthrow1×Jeremiah 1:10
and tear down1×Micah 5:11
and they will level1×Ezekiel 16:39
and you will be ousted1×Isaiah 22:19
are broken down1×Joel 1:17
are destroyed1×Psalms 11:3
break through1×Exodus 19:24
demolishes it1×Proverbs 29:4
He has demolished1×Lamentations 2:2
He has overthrown you1×Lamentations 2:17
He tears down1×Job 12:14
He will tear them down1×Psalms 28:5
I will tear down1×Ezekiel 13:14
it is torn down1×Proverbs 11:11
or demolished1×Jeremiah 31:40
shatter1×Psalms 58:6
tear [them] down1×Jeremiah 24:6
tear down1×Judges 6:25
tear you down1×Jeremiah 42:10
tears it down1×Proverbs 14:1
that had been torn down1×1 Kings 18:30
They destroyed1×2 Kings 3:25
They will demolish1×Ezekiel 26:12
to break through1×Exodus 19:21
to demolish1×Jeremiah 31:28
was broken down1×Proverbs 24:31
what was destroyed1×Ezekiel 36:36
will be thrown down1×Ezekiel 38:20
you are to demolish them1×Exodus 23:24
You overthrew1×Exodus 15:7
your destroyers1×Isaiah 49:17
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 15:7תַּהֲרֹ֣סtoYou overthrewVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularExodus 19:21יֶהֶרְס֤וּtoto break throughVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 19:24יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּtobreak throughVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 23:24הָרֵס֙toyou are to demolish themVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteExodus 23:24תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔םto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralJudges 6:25וְהָרַסְתָּ֗totear downConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular2 Samuel 11:25וְהָרְסָ֖הּtoand demolish itConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular1 Kings 18:30הֶהָרֽוּס׃tothat had been torn downArticle | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular1 Kings 19:10הָרָ֔סוּtotorn downVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Kings 19:14הָרָ֔סוּtotorn downVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 15:7
Aligned rows43
Books represented16
Exodus5Judges12 Samuel11 Kings32 Kings11 Chronicles1Job1Psalms3Proverbs4Isaiah3Jeremiah7Lamentations2Ezekiel8Joel1Micah1Malachi1
Source forms
אֶהֱרֹ֔ס2x’e·hĕ·rōsJeremiah 24:6, Jeremiah 42:10
הָרָ֔סוּ2xhā·rā·sū1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:14
וְהָֽרְסוּ֙2xwə·hā·rə·sūEzekiel 26:4, Ezekiel 26:12
נֶהֶרְס֖וּ2xne·her·sūJeremiah 50:15, Joel 1:17
אֶהֱר֑וֹס1x’e·hĕ·rō·wsMalachi 1:4
הֶהָרֽוּס׃1xhe·hā·rūs1 Kings 18:30
הַנֶּ֣הֱרָס֔וֹת1xhan·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯEzekiel 36:36
הָרֵס֙1xhā·rêsExodus 23:24
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xEzekiel 16:39, Ezekiel 26:4, Ezekiel 26:12
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular3xJeremiah 24:6, Jeremiah 42:10, Malachi 1:4
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural3xExodus 19:21, Exodus 19:24, 2 Kings 3:25
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xIsaiah 14:17, Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 30:4, Ezekiel 38:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular2xEzekiel 13:14, Micah 5:11
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2xJeremiah 1:10, Jeremiah 31:28
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2xJeremiah 50:15, Joel 1:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Destruction through violent dismantling, often structural ruin; God's judgment tool against buildings, altars, and idolatrous systems.
Strong'sH2040
Lexical occurrences43 versesWord forms3 forms21 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 11:11Source Gloss
to pull down or in pieces, break , destroy
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Destruction through violent dismantling, often structural ruin; God's judgment tool against buildings, altars, and idolatrous systems.
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy BDB: throw down Usage: beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, × utterly.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms21
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
ImperfectJer 24:6 · Jer 42:10 · Mal 1:4 · 2Kgs 3:25 · Exod 19:21 · Exod 15:7 · Job 12:147×
PerfectIsa 14:17 · Lam 2:2 · Lam 2:17 · 1Kgs 19:10 · 1Kgs 19:145×
JussiveExod 19:241×
Participle activeJer 45:41×
Sequential imperfectPs 58:71×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action5×
PerfectJer 50:15 · Joel 1:17 · Prov 24:313×
ImperfectJer 31:40 · Prov 11:112×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Infinitive absoluteExod 23:241×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to tear down or demolish
Showing 1 selected witness from 43 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
הָרַס is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Wicked speech has the power to destabilize and destroy communities.Proverbs 11:11
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.