הָמָס
a dry twig or brushwood
Definition
The Hebrew noun הָמָס (hâmâç) refers to dry, brittle twigs or brushwood, likely gathered for kindling. Its core meaning is material that easily snaps or crackles when broken, emphasizing its fragility and combustibility. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 64:2, it is used metaphorically to describe the melting or dissolving of mountains before God's presence, comparing their disintegration to the way dry brushwood is consumed by fire. This usage extends the literal sense of a fragile, combustible material into a powerful image of impermanence before divine power.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 64:2 (Hebrew 64:1). It is used in a prophetic, poetic context within a prayer, describing the desired manifestation of God's awesome presence. The prophet pleads for God to come down so that the mountains would 'quake' or 'melt' (using הָמָס) at His presence. The usage is entirely metaphorical, drawing on the physical property of dry brushwood being quickly consumed to illustrate the complete and swift dissolution of seemingly solid, permanent geographical features before the Lord.
Etymology
The noun הָמָס (hâmâç) derives from an unused Hebrew root that apparently meant 'to crackle' or 'to break into pieces.' This root concept directly informs the word's meaning, pointing to the sound and action of dry, brittle material snapping. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of something fragile or easily crushed. The development from a literal 'crackling twig' to a metaphor for 'melting' or 'dissolving' in Isaiah is a natural poetic extension based on the idea of solid matter breaking down completely.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, הָמָס carries significant theological weight in its context. It vividly portrays the absolute sovereignty and terrifying majesty of God, before whom the most stable and imposing parts of creation (mountains) become as fragile as kindling. This metaphor enriches the biblical theme of God's transcendent power over nature and underscores human dependence on His mercy. Understanding this Hebrew word deepens the imagery in Isaiah's prayer, highlighting the contrast between human frailty and divine permanence, and the hope that God's intervention can fundamentally alter reality.
In ancient Israelite culture, gathering dry twigs and brushwood was a daily, mundane task for starting fires for cooking and warmth. Everyone would be familiar with the quick, crackling burn of such materials. This common experience grounds the prophet's metaphor, making the abstract concept of cosmic dissolution immediately tangible. The modern reader might miss this visceral connection, but for the original audience, the comparison of mountains to הָמָס would have evoked a powerful sensory memory of something utterly consumed in moments.
עֵץ (ʿēts, H6086) — a general term for 'tree' or 'wood,' not specifying dryness or fragility. קַשׁ (qash, H7179) — 'stubble' or 'chaff,' another dry, insubstantial plant material often used metaphorically for what is quickly destroyed.
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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