הֲרֵגָה

הֲרֵגָה

slaughter

Definition

הֲרֵגָה (hărêgâh) is a feminine noun meaning 'slaughter' or 'killing,' specifically referring to violent, often large-scale, destruction of life. It denotes not just any death, but a brutal and bloody execution, frequently in the context of divine judgment or warfare. In Jeremiah 7:32 and 19:6, it describes the coming judgment on Jerusalem, where the Valley of Hinnom will be renamed 'the Valley of Slaughter' due to the corpses from God's wrath. In Zechariah 11:4-7, it is used metaphorically for the fate of a flock, symbolizing the social collapse and exploitation of God's people.

Biblical Usage

This word appears exclusively in prophetic books, specifically Jeremiah and Zechariah, always in contexts of severe judgment. In Jeremiah, it is tied to specific locations (the Valley of Hinnom/Topheth) becoming places of mass death as a consequence of idolatry (Jeremiah 7:32, 19:6). In Zechariah 11:4-7, the usage is more figurative, portraying the 'flock doomed to slaughter' as a metaphor for a people abandoned to predatory leaders. The pattern is one of divinely ordained or permitted violent destruction.

Etymology

הֲרֵגָה is the feminine noun form derived from the root הָרַג (hārag, H2027), a common verb meaning 'to kill' or 'to slay.' The feminine form often carries an abstract or intensive sense, hence 'slaughter' as an event or state. It is related to other Semitic roots for killing, such as Akkadian 'harāgu.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is a prophetic term for God's severe judicial action. It underscores the seriousness of covenant rebellion and idolatry, portraying the consequences not as random violence but as a direct result of turning from Yahweh. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the stark, visceral language the prophets used to warn of coming judgment, connecting moral failure to catastrophic outcomes. In its cultural setting, 'slaughter' (hărêgâh) would evoke images of ritual sacrifice, battlefield carnage, or the butchering of animals. The prophetic application to a valley (Hinnom) associated with child sacrifice to Molech (Jeremiah 7:31) creates a powerful irony: the place of illicit pagan killing would become a place of divinely sanctioned killing as judgment. הֶרֶג (hereg, H2027) — the masculine form, more general for 'slaughter' or 'slaying.' טֶבַח (ṭeb̠aḥ, H2874) — often 'slaughter' for sacrifice or food; less focused on judgment. מַגֵּפָה (maggēp̄â, H4046) — 'plague' or 'blow,' a cause of widespread death, not necessarily violent killing.

Word Details