What does חָמֵץ mean in the Bible?
e. e.
Hebrew · H2556
חָמֵץ
To be pungent ; i.e. in taste ( sour , i.e. literally fermented , or figuratively, harsh ), in color ( dazzling )
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חָמֵץ H2556
What does חָמֵץ mean in the Bible?
חָמֵץ is a Hebrew word meaning "to be pungent ; i.e. in taste ( sour , i.e. literally fermented , or figuratively, harsh ), in color ( dazzling )".
Full entry for חָמֵץ (H2556) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2556?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and ruthless (1), it was leavened (1), leaven (1), the rising (1), was grieved (1).
Where does חָמֵץ appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 12:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (2), Psalms (2), Hosea (1), Isaiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and ruthless 1× Psalms 71:4
it was leavened 1× Exodus 12:34
leaven 1× Exodus 12:39
the rising 1× Hosea 7:4
was grieved 1× Psalms 73:21
with crimson-stained 1× Isaiah 63:1
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 12:34 יֶחְמָ֑ץ to it was leavened Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 12:39 חָמֵ֑ץ to leaven Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 71:4 וְחוֹמֵץ׃ to and ruthless Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Psalms 73:21 יִתְחַמֵּ֣ץ to was grieved Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Isaiah 63:1 חֲמ֤וּץ to with crimson-stained Noun - masculine singular construct Hosea 7:4 חֻמְצָתֽוֹ׃ to the rising Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 12:34
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 4
Exodus 2 Psalms 2 Isaiah 1 Hosea 1
Source forms
וְחוֹמֵץ׃ 1x wə·ḥō·mēṣ Psalms 71:4
חֲמ֤וּץ 1x ḥă·mūṣ Isaiah 63:1
חָמֵ֑ץ 1x ḥā·mêṣ Exodus 12:39
חֻמְצָתֽוֹ׃ 1x ḥum·ṣā·ṯōw Hosea 7:4
יֶחְמָ֑ץ 1x yeḥ·māṣ Exodus 12:34
יִתְחַמֵּ֣ץ 1x yiṯ·ḥam·mêṣ Psalms 73:21
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Psalms 71:4
Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Isaiah 63:1
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 73:21
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Exodus 12:34
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1x Hosea 7:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Exodus 12:39
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to be pungent ; i.e. in taste ( sour , i.e. literally fermented , or figuratively, harsh ), in color ( dazzling )
Source Gloss
to be pungent ; i.e. in taste ( sour , i.e. literally fermented , or figuratively, harsh ), in color ( dazzling )
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling) BDB: be sour Usage: cruel (man), dyed, be grieved, leavened.
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 groups 2 Aligned forms 4
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 3×
Imperfect Exod 12:34 1×
Perfect Exod 12:39 1×
Participle passive Isa 63:1 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Imperfect Ps 73:21 1×
Word Origins
חָמֵץ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain