What does חָרַף mean in the Bible?
e. e.
Hebrew · H2778
חָרַף
To pull off , i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at , i.e. defame ; to spend the winter
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חָרַף H2778
What does חָרַף mean in the Bible?
חָרַף is a Hebrew word meaning "to pull off , i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at , i.e. defame ; to spend the winter".
Full entry for חָרַף (H2778) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2778?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to defy (5), and when he taunted (2), have taunted (2), have you taunted (2), taunt me (2).
Where does חָרַף appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 19:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (12), Isaiah (6), 1 Samuel (5), 2 Kings (4).
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 to defy 5× 1 Samuel 17:25, 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:16, Isaiah 37:4
and when he taunted 2× 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:7
have taunted 2× Psalms 89:51, Zephaniah 2:8
have you taunted 2× 2 Kings 19:22, Isaiah 37:23
taunt me 2× Psalms 42:10, Psalms 102:8
you have taunted 2× 2 Kings 19:23, Isaiah 37:24
accuse me 1× Job 27:6
and scorned Me 1× Isaiah 65:7
defy 1× 1 Samuel 17:10
discredit me 1× Nehemiah 6:13
has mocked You 1× Psalms 74:18
have mocked 1× Psalms 89:51
he has defied 1× 1 Samuel 17:36
He rebukes 1× Psalms 57:3
he should defy 1× 1 Samuel 17:26
him who taunts me 1× Proverbs 27:11
in winter 1× Isaiah 18:6
insults 1× Proverbs 17:5
mocking 1× 2 Chronicles 32:17
of the scorner 1× Psalms 44:16
of those who insult You 1× Psalms 69:9
promised 1× Leviticus 19:20
taunt You 1× Psalms 74:10
taunting 1× Zephaniah 2:10
taunts 1× Proverbs 14:31
they hurled at You 1× Psalms 79:12
to taunt 1× 2 Samuel 23:9
who insults me 1× Psalms 55:12
who risked 1× Judges 5:18
who taunts 1× Psalms 119:42
you have defied 1× 1 Samuel 17:45
you taunted 1× Judges 8:15
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 19:20 נֶחֱרֶ֣פֶת to promised Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular Judges 5:18 חֵרֵ֥ף to who risked Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Judges 8:15 חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם to you taunted Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine plural 1 Samuel 17:10 חֵרַ֛פְתִּי to defy Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular 1 Samuel 17:25 לְחָרֵ֥ף to to defy Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1 Samuel 17:26 חֵרֵ֔ף to he should defy Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 17:36 חֵרֵ֔ף to he has defied Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 17:45 חֵרַֽפְתָּ׃ to you have defied Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular 2 Samuel 21:21 וַיְחָרֵ֖ף to and when he taunted Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 23:9 בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם to to taunt Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Leviticus 19:20
Aligned rows 41
Books represented 13
Leviticus 1 Judges 2 1 Samuel 5 2 Samuel 2 2 Kings 4 1 Chronicles 1 2 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 1 Psalms 12 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 6 Zephaniah 2
Source forms
חֵרֵ֣ף 3x ḥê·rêp̄ Psalms 57:3, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 17:5
וַיְחָרֵ֖ף 2x way·ḥā·rêp̄ 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:7
חֵרֵ֔ף 2x ḥê·rêp̄ 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36
חֵֽרְפוּ֙ 2x ḥê·rə·p̄ū Zephaniah 2:8, Zephaniah 2:10
חֹרְפִ֣י 2x ḥō·rə·p̄î Psalms 119:42, Proverbs 27:11
חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ 2x ḥê·rap̄·tā 2 Kings 19:22, Isaiah 37:23
חֵרַ֣פְתָּ׀ 2x ḥê·rap̄·tā 2 Kings 19:23, Isaiah 37:24
לְחָרֵף֙ 2x lə·ḥā·rêp̄ 2 Kings 19:4, Isaiah 37:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 7x Judges 5:18, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, Psalms 57:3
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 6x 1 Samuel 17:25, 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:16, 2 Chronicles 32:17
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular 5x 1 Samuel 17:45, 2 Kings 19:22, 2 Kings 19:23, Isaiah 37:23
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural 4x Psalms 89:51, Zephaniah 2:8, Zephaniah 2:10
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular 3x Psalms 42:10, Psalms 102:8, Isaiah 65:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular 2x Psalms 119:42, Proverbs 27:11
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural 1x 2 Samuel 23:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to pull off , i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at , i.e. defame ; to spend the winter
Source Gloss
to pull off , i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at , i.e. defame ; to spend the winter
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at, i.e. defame; to spend the winter BDB: reproach Usage: betroth, blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid.
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 3 Aligned forms 23
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 20×
Perfect 1Sam 17:26 · 1Sam 17:36 · Judg 5:18 · Prov 14:31 · Prov 17:5 · Ps 57:4 · Ps 74:18 · 1Sam 17:45 · 2Kgs 19:22 · 2Kgs 19:23 · Isa 37:23 · Isa 37:24 · Ps 89:52 · Zeph 2:8 · Zeph 2:10 · 1Sam 17:10 18×
Participle active Ps 44:17 1×
Imperfect Ps 74:10 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Imperfect Isa 18:6 · Job 27:6 2×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Participle active Lev 19:20 1×
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.
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