What does חָמֵץ (ḥāmēṣ) mean in the Bible?
חָמֵץ (ḥāmēṣ): Fermentation process that corrupts and spreads; metaphorically extends to moral corruption and exploitative practices
Hebrew · H2557
חָמֵץ
Ferment , (figuratively) extortion
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חָמֵץH2557
Pronunciationḥāmēṣ
What does חָמֵץ (ḥāmēṣ) mean in the Bible?
חָמֵץ (ḥāmēṣ): Fermentation process that corrupts and spreads; metaphorically extends to moral corruption and exploitative practices
Full entry for חָמֵץ (H2557) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2557?
The BSB source-word alignment has 13 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include anything leavened (3), leavened (3), with leaven (3), leavened bread (2), of leavened (1).
Where does חָמֵץ (ḥāmēṣ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 12:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (7), Leviticus (4), Amos (1), Deuteronomy (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 Itanything leavened3×Exodus 12:15, Exodus 23:18, Exodus 34:25
leavened3×Exodus 12:20, Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:7
with leaven3×Leviticus 2:11, Leviticus 6:17, Leviticus 23:17
leavened bread2×Deuteronomy 16:3, Amos 4:5
of leavened1×Leviticus 7:13
something leavened1×Exodus 12:19
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 12:15חָמֵ֗ץtoanything leavenedNoun - masculine singularExodus 12:19מַחְמֶ֗צֶתtosomething leavenedNoun - feminine singularExodus 12:20מַחְמֶ֖צֶתtoleavenedNoun - feminine singularExodus 13:3חָמֵֽץ׃toleavenedNoun - masculine singularExodus 13:7חָמֵ֗ץtoleavenedNoun - masculine singularExodus 23:18חָמֵ֖ץtoanything leavenedNoun - masculine singularExodus 34:25חָמֵ֖ץtoanything leavenedNoun - masculine singularLeviticus 2:11חָמֵ֑ץtowith leavenNoun - masculine singularLeviticus 6:17חָמֵ֔ץtowith leavenNoun - masculine singularLeviticus 7:13חָמֵ֔ץtoof leavenedNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 12:15
Aligned rows13
Books represented4
Exodus7Leviticus4Deuteronomy1Amos1
Source forms
חָמֵ֖ץ3xḥā·mêṣExodus 23:18, Exodus 34:25, Leviticus 23:17
חָמֵ֔ץ3xḥā·mêṣLeviticus 6:17, Leviticus 7:13, Deuteronomy 16:3
חָמֵ֗ץ2xḥā·mêṣExodus 12:15, Exodus 13:7
חָמֵ֑ץ1xḥā·mêṣLeviticus 2:11
חָמֵֽץ׃1xḥā·mêṣExodus 13:3
מֵֽחָמֵץ֙1xmê·ḥā·mêṣAmos 4:5
מַחְמֶ֗צֶת1xmaḥ·me·ṣeṯExodus 12:19
מַחְמֶ֖צֶת1xmaḥ·me·ṣeṯExodus 12:20
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular10xExodus 12:15, Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:7, Exodus 23:18
Noun - feminine singular2xExodus 12:19, Exodus 12:20
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular1xAmos 4:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Fermentation process that corrupts and spreads; metaphorically extends to moral corruption and exploitative practices
Source Gloss
ferment , (figuratively) extortion
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Fermentation process that corrupts and spreads; metaphorically extends to moral corruption and exploitative practices
ferment, (figuratively) extortion BDB: that which is leavened Usage: leaven, leavened (bread).
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 groups1Aligned forms12
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
Participle activeExod 12:19 · Exod 12:202×
Word Origins
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.