חָמַק
properly, to wrap; hence, to depart (i.e. turn about)
Definition
The Hebrew verb חָמַק (châmaq) fundamentally means 'to turn aside' or 'to depart.' Its core sense involves a physical turning away or withdrawal from a place or person. In Song of Solomon 5:6, it describes the beloved's sudden departure: 'My beloved had turned away (חָמַק) and was gone.' In Jeremiah 31:22, the meaning is more metaphorical, describing faithless Israel's tendency to 'turn away' or 'go about' from God's ways. The underlying idea is a deliberate movement away from a previous position or relationship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Song of Solomon 5:6, it is used in a romantic, relational context to describe a lover's physical withdrawal. In Jeremiah 31:22, it is used in a prophetic, covenantal context to describe the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel. Despite the different settings, both uses convey the concept of a turning away that creates separation.
Etymology
חָמַק is a primitive root. Its basic meaning is related to turning or twisting. Cognates in other Semitic languages suggest connections to ideas of being slippery or elusive, which aligns with the concept of slipping away or turning aside.
Semantic Range
Though used only twice, this word contributes to the biblical theme of covenant fidelity. In Jeremiah 31:22, it is part of God's diagnosis of Israel's spiritual adultery—their tendency to 'turn away' from Him. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of both passages by highlighting that relational and spiritual unfaithfulness are fundamentally a 'turning' of the heart away from its proper object, whether a human beloved or God Himself.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, actions like turning away or departing could carry strong social and covenantal implications, signaling a breach in relationship or loyalty. The use in Song of Solomon reflects the intense personal emotions of love poetry, where a lover's departure is deeply felt.
סוּר (sûr, H5493) — a more general term for turning aside or departing. עָזַב (‘āzav, H5800) — emphasizes forsaking or abandoning, a stronger sense of desertion. פָּנָה (pānâ, H6437) — to turn, often physically, but can also imply turning to face something.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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