What does חָמַד (chamad) mean in the Bible?
חָמַד (chamad): Desire that moves from aesthetic appreciation toward possession; can signal both innocent delight and covetous appetite.
Hebrew · H2530
חָמַד
To delight in
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חָמַדH2530
Pronunciationchamad
What does חָמַד (chamad) mean in the Bible?
חָמַד (chamad): Desire that moves from aesthetic appreciation toward possession; can signal both innocent delight and covetous appetite.
Full entry for חָמַד (H2530) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2530?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include covet (4), and the things they treasure (1), as precious as (1), chose (1), delight (1).
Where does חָמַד (chamad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (4), Exodus (3), Isaiah (3), Psalms (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itcovet4×Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21, Deuteronomy 7:25
and the things they treasure1×Isaiah 44:9
as precious as1×Ezra 8:27
chose1×Psalms 68:16
delight1×Proverbs 1:22
desirable1×Genesis 3:6
desire1×Proverbs 12:12
highly precious1×Daniel 9:23
I coveted them1×Joshua 7:21
I delight1×Song Of Solomon 2:3
in which you have delighted1×Isaiah 1:29
lust1×Proverbs 6:25
Precious1×Proverbs 21:20
that is pleasing1×Genesis 2:9
that we should desire Him1×Isaiah 53:2
They are more precious1×Psalms 19:10
They covet1×Micah 2:2
what he holds dear1×Psalms 39:11
will covet1×Exodus 34:24
with his treasure1×Job 20:20
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:9נֶחְמָ֥דtothat is pleasingVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularGenesis 3:6וְנֶחְמָ֤דtodesirableConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularExodus 20:17תַחְמֹ֖דtocovetVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularExodus 20:17תַחְמֹ֞דtocovetVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularExodus 34:24יַחְמֹ֥דtowill covetVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 5:21תַחְמֹ֖דtocovetVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 7:25תַחְמֹד֩tocovetVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJoshua 7:21וָֽאֶחְמְדֵ֖םtoI coveted themConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralEzra 8:27חֲמוּדֹ֖תtoas precious asNoun - feminine pluralJob 20:20בַּ֝חֲמוּד֗וֹtowith his treasurePreposition-b, Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 2:9
Aligned rows23
Books represented12
Genesis2Exodus3Deuteronomy2Joshua1Ezra1Job1Psalms3Proverbs4Song Of Solomon1Isaiah3Daniel1Micah1
Source forms
חָמַ֣ד2xḥā·maḏPsalms 68:16, Proverbs 12:12
תַחְמֹ֖ד2xṯaḥ·mōḏExodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21
בַּ֝חֲמוּד֗וֹ1xba·ḥă·mū·ḏōwJob 20:20
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים1xhan·ne·ḥĕ·mā·ḏîmPsalms 19:10
וָֽאֶחְמְדֵ֖ם1xwā·’eḥ·mə·ḏêmJoshua 7:21
וְחָמְד֤וּ1xwə·ḥā·mə·ḏūMicah 2:2
וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖ם1xwa·ḥă·mū·ḏê·hemIsaiah 44:9
וְנֶחְמָ֤ד1xwə·neḥ·māḏGenesis 3:6
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular5xExodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21, Deuteronomy 7:25, Proverbs 6:25
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2xGenesis 2:9, Proverbs 21:20
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 68:16, Proverbs 12:12
Adjective - masculine singular1xDaniel 9:23
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural1xPsalms 19:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular1xGenesis 3:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 53:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xMicah 2:2
Evidence Summary
CovenantJustice
Hebrew word. Desire that moves from aesthetic appreciation toward possession; can signal both innocent delight and covetous appetite.
Strong'sH2530
Lexical occurrences28 versesWord forms3 forms19 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkMicah 2:1-5Source Gloss
to delight in
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Desire that moves from aesthetic appreciation toward possession; can signal both innocent delight and covetous appetite.
to delight in BDB: desire Usage: beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, (× great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).
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 forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
ImperfectDeut 5:21 · Deut 7:25 · Exod 20:17 · Exod 34:245×
PerfectProv 12:12 · Ps 68:17 · Isa 1:29 · Prov 1:224×
JussiveProv 6:251×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Participle activeGen 2:9 · Prov 21:202×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
PerfectSong 2:31×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To desire or take pleasure in something belonging to another.
Desirable; precious; to be greatly valued or coveted in a positive sense
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 28 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָמַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
It echoes the Tenth Commandment, showing continuity between Micah’s indictment and the foundational covenant law.Micah 2:1-5
Canonical Themes
CovenantJustice
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.