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.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
חָמַר H2560
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 It I am churning 2× Lamentations 1:20, Lamentations 2:11
and coated it 1× Exodus 2:3
and foam 1× Psalms 46:3
foaming 1× Psalms 75:8
is red 1× Job 16:16
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 2:3 וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה to and coated it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular Job 16:16 חֳמַרְמְרָה to is red Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 46:3 יֶחְמְר֣וּ to and foam Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Psalms 75:8 חָמַ֨ר׀ to foaming Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Lamentations 1:20 חֳמַרְמָ֔רוּ to I am churning Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Lamentations 2:11 חֳמַרְמְר֣וּ to I am churning Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 2:3
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 4
Exodus 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Lamentations 2
Source forms
וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה 1x wat·taḥ·mə·rāh Exodus 2:3
חָמַ֨ר׀ 1x ḥā·mar Psalms 75:8
חֳמַרְמְרָה 1x ḥo·mar·mə·rå̄h Job 16:16
חֳמַרְמְר֣וּ 1x ḥo·mar·mə·rū Lamentations 2:11
חֳמַרְמָ֔רוּ 1x ḥo·mar·mā·rū Lamentations 1:20
יֶחְמְר֣וּ 1x yeḥ·mə·rū Psalms 46:3
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural 3x Job 16:16, Lamentations 1:20, Lamentations 2:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular 1x Exodus 2:3
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Psalms 46:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 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 definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 6
Pael 4×
Perfect Job 16:16 · Lam 1:20 · Lam 2:11 4×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Imperfect Ps 46:4 1×
Perfect Ps 75:9 1×
Word Origins
חָמַר is built from this root:
חֵמָר H2564
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