הֲרִיסָה
something demolished
Definition
The Hebrew noun הֲרִיסָה (hărîyçâh) refers to something that has been demolished, ruined, or broken down, specifically a state of destruction or collapse. It describes physical structures that have been violently torn down, such as city walls or buildings reduced to rubble. In its sole biblical occurrence in Amos 9:11, it is used metaphorically for the 'ruins' or 'fallen booth' of David, representing a dynasty or kingdom in a state of collapse and needing restoration. The word emphasizes not just decay but the result of a deliberate or catastrophic act of destruction.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Amos 9:11. It is used in a prophetic context where God promises to 'raise up the fallen booth (sukkah) of David' and 'repair its breaches' and 'raise up its ruins (hărîyçâh).' Here, it metaphorically describes the shattered political and covenantal structure of the Davidic kingdom, which God vows to restore. The usage is entirely figurative, applying a term for physical demolition to a national or dynastic collapse.
Etymology
Derived from the root הָרַס (hāras, H2040), meaning 'to tear down, break down, overthrow.' This root is used for the demolition of cities, altars, and walls (e.g., Judges 6:25, 2 Kings 25:10). The noun form הֲרִיסָה specifically denotes the resulting state or object of that demolition—the ruins. Cognate words in related Semitic languages carry similar meanings of breaking or destroying.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the profound state of judgment and collapse, yet is positioned within a promise of divine restoration. In Amos 9:11, the 'ruins' of David's booth signify the consequence of Israel's sin and covenant failure, leading to national demise. However, God's pledge to rebuild these very ruins becomes a cornerstone messianic prophecy, cited in Acts 15:16-17, pointing to the restoration of David's kingdom through Jesus Christ. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Amos by highlighting the depth of the collapse and the magnitude of God's gracious promise to reverse it.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, a city or dynasty's ruins were a powerful symbol of total defeat, vulnerability, and divine judgment. Ruins were not merely old buildings but evidence of a catastrophic military or divine intervention. The promise to rebuild ruins, as in Amos, would have been understood as a radical act of royal power and covenant faithfulness, reversing a seemingly permanent state of shame and desolation.
חָרְבָּה (chorbah, H2723) — desolation, waste; often a deserted ruin. מַפָּלָה (mappalah, H4654) — a fallen heap, ruin from collapse. שַׁמָּה (shammah, H8047) — devastation, astonishment; emphasizes the resulting desolate state.
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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