חֳרִי
a burning (i.e. intense) anger
Definition
The noun חֳרִי (chŏrîy) denotes a state of intense, burning anger. It is most often used to describe the fierce wrath of God, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:24 and Lamentations 2:3, where it signifies divine judgment against sin and covenant unfaithfulness. In human contexts, it describes a powerful, hot anger, such as Moses's indignation before Pharaoh (Exodus 11:8) or Jonathan's rage at his father Saul's dishonorable actions (1 Samuel 20:34). The word consistently conveys the heat and consuming nature of anger, whether divine or human.
Biblical Usage
This word appears six times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and prophetic books. It is used to describe both divine and human anger. In Exodus 11:8 and 1 Samuel 20:34, it depicts the intense, personal anger of Moses and Jonathan, respectively. In prophetic and historical texts like Deuteronomy 29:24, 2 Chronicles 25:10, Isaiah 7:4, and Lamentations 2:3, it characterizes the fierce, burning wrath of God, often in the context of national judgment or covenant curses.
Etymology
The noun חֳרִי (chŏrîy) is derived from the root חָרָה (ḥārâ, H2734), which means 'to burn' or 'to be hot.' This root is also the source for words related to heat, such as חֹרֶב (ḥōrev, H2721) meaning 'dry heat' or 'drought.' The semantic development is clear: from the physical concept of burning, the meaning extends metaphorically to the heat of intense anger.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the nature of God's holy wrath against sin. It is not a petty or capricious emotion but a righteous, burning response to evil and covenant betrayal, as seen in Lamentations 2:3. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the serious consequences of rebellion against God and the profound need for atonement, contrasting His fierce anger with His great mercy.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, anger, especially from a deity or king, was understood as a destructive, consuming force. The metaphor of fire or burning for anger was common, conveying its power to devastate. This cultural understanding makes the biblical usage of חֳרִי for God's judgment immediately comprehensible to its original audience as a severe and total threat.
אַף (ʾap, H639) — A more common word for 'nose' or 'face,' often used idiomatically for anger, focusing on the flaring of the nostrils. חֵמָה (ḥēmâ, H2534) — Wrath or poison, emphasizing the venomous, feverish, and often destructive aspect of anger. קֶצֶף (qeṣep̄, H7110) — Wrath or indignation, often used for a sudden outburst or fit of rage.
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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