What does חָמַר mean in the Bible?
חָמַר is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch".
Hebrew · H2560
חָמַר
Properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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חָמַרH2560
What does חָמַר mean in the Bible?
חָמַר is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch".
Full entry for חָמַר (H2560) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2560?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include I am churning (2), and coated it (1), and foam (1), foaming (1), is red (1).
Where does חָמַר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 2:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Lamentations (2), Psalms (2), Exodus (1), Job (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 ItI am churning2×Lamentations 1:20, Lamentations 2:11
and coated it1×Exodus 2:3
and foam1×Psalms 46:3
foaming1×Psalms 75:8
is red1×Job 16:16
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 2:3וַתַּחְמְרָ֥הtoand coated itConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singularJob 16:16חֳמַרְמְרָהtois redVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 46:3יֶחְמְר֣וּtoand foamVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralPsalms 75:8חָמַ֨ר׀tofoamingVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLamentations 1:20חֳמַרְמָ֔רוּtoI am churningVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralLamentations 2:11חֳמַרְמְר֣וּtoI am churningVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 2:3
Aligned rows6
Books represented4
Exodus1Job1Psalms2Lamentations2
Source forms
וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה1xwat·taḥ·mə·rāhExodus 2:3
חָמַ֨ר׀1xḥā·marPsalms 75:8
חֳמַרְמְרָה1xḥo·mar·mə·rå̄hJob 16:16
חֳמַרְמְר֣וּ1xḥo·mar·mə·rūLamentations 2:11
חֳמַרְמָ֔רוּ1xḥo·mar·mā·rūLamentations 1:20
יֶחְמְר֣וּ1xyeḥ·mə·rūPsalms 46:3
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural3xJob 16:16, Lamentations 1:20, Lamentations 2:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular1xExodus 2:3
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural1xPsalms 46:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xPsalms 75:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch
Source Gloss
properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch BDB: ferment Usage: daub, befoul, be red, trouble.
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 groups2Aligned forms6
Pael4×
PerfectJob 16:16 · Lam 1:20 · Lam 2:114×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
ImperfectPs 46:41×
PerfectPs 75:91×
Word Origins
חָמַר is built from this root:
חֵמָרH2564