לָחוּם
properly, eaten, i.e. food; also flesh, i.e. body
Definition
The Hebrew noun לָחוּם (lâchûwm) primarily means 'food' or 'that which is eaten,' derived from its root meaning 'to eat.' In its two biblical occurrences, it carries a nuanced sense. In Zephaniah 1:17, it refers to human 'flesh' or 'body' in the context of divine judgment, where people's blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. In Job 20:23, it appears in the phrase 'while he is eating' (לַחֲמוֹ, lachamo), describing a wicked person's consumption under God's wrath, closely tying the word to the act of eating itself.
Biblical Usage
This rare word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in poetic and prophetic contexts of divine retribution. In Zephaniah 1:17, it describes the physical 'flesh' of people under judgment. In Job 20:23, it is used in a construct form (לַחֲמוֹ) to mean 'his eating' or 'while he is eating,' portraying the interruption of a meal by God's anger. Both uses are in contexts of severe punishment, linking consumption or physical substance with calamity.
Etymology
לָחוּם is the passive participle of the verb לָחַם (lâcham, H3898), which means 'to eat' or 'to feed.' The form indicates something that is 'eaten' or 'consumed.' It can also appear as לָחֻם (lachum). The root is associated with eating and nourishment, and its participle form naturally gives rise to the meanings of 'food' or 'flesh' as that which is consumed.
Semantic Range
Though rare, לָחוּם contributes to themes of divine judgment and human fragility. In Zephaniah 1:17, it underscores the physical, visceral reality of God's wrath against sin. In Job 20:23, it highlights the suddenness of judgment, even in the mundane act of eating. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting the concrete imagery of consumption and flesh to the serious consequences of rebellion against God, emphasizing that judgment touches the most basic human experiences.
In ancient Israelite culture, food and eating were central to life, community, and covenant rituals (e.g., sacrifices, meals). The word's dual sense as 'food' and 'flesh' reflects a view where nourishment and physical substance were closely linked. The use in judgment contexts (Zephaniah, Job) would resonate as a stark violation of sustenance and bodily integrity, heightening the prophetic warning.
לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — the common word for 'bread' or 'food,' more general and frequent. בָּשָׂר (basar, H1320) — the primary term for 'flesh' or 'body,' with wider usage including physical being and kinship.
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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