חַרְסוּת

חַרְסוּת

a potsherd, i.e. (by implication) a pottery; the name of a gate at Jerusalem

Definition

חַרְסוּת refers primarily to a potsherd, which is a broken piece of pottery. In its single biblical occurrence in Jeremiah 19:2, it specifically denotes the 'Potsherd Gate' (or 'East Gate') in Jerusalem, likely named for a nearby pottery workshop or a place where pottery fragments were discarded. The word can also imply the broader concept of pottery or earthenware, as it derives from the root for pottery. This term highlights a specific, tangible location in the city that Jeremiah was commanded to visit for a prophetic act.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 19:2, where it is used as a proper noun for a gate in Jerusalem: 'the Potsherd Gate.' The context is prophetic; God instructs Jeremiah to go to this specific location to pronounce judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, using a pottery vessel as a visual symbol. Its singular usage ties it directly to this dramatic symbolic act of breaking pottery to represent God's coming judgment.

Etymology

Derived from the root חֶרֶס (cheres, H2775), meaning 'pottery,' 'earthenware,' or 'shard.' The form חַרְסוּת is a noun likely indicating a place or object associated with pottery. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to pottery or baked clay, reinforcing its connection to manufactured earthen vessels. The development from 'pottery' to a gate name reflects a common practice of naming locations after local industries or features.

Semantic Range

Though a simple noun, its use in Jeremiah 19 is theologically significant. The 'Potsherd Gate' is the setting for a powerful prophetic object lesson where Jeremiah breaks a clay jar, symbolizing how God will break Judah and Jerusalem due to their idolatry and sin (Jeremiah 19:10-11). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by connecting the gate's name—evoking fragility and brokenness—to the prophecy's theme of divine judgment and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. In ancient Israel, pottery was ubiquitous for daily life (storage, cooking, etc.). A potsherd was a common, worthless broken fragment, often used for scraping or writing notes (ostraca). Gates in city walls were often named after nearby landmarks, markets, or industries. The 'Potsherd Gate' likely identified an area where potters worked or where broken pottery was dumped, making it a familiar, humble location that Jeremiah's audience would recognize, amplifying the prophecy's stark imagery of societal breakage. חֶרֶס (cheres, H2775) — the more common root word for pottery, earthenware, or a sherd itself. כְּלִי חֶרֶס (kli cheres) — a phrase meaning 'earthen vessel' or 'clay pot' (e.g., Jeremiah 19:1).

Word Details