Bible Word Study
הֲרִיסוּת
hărîyçûwth · demolition
הֲרִיסוּת
demolition
Definition
The Hebrew noun הֲרִיסוּת (hărîyçûwth) refers to a state of being broken down or demolished, specifically describing ruins or a destroyed condition. It denotes the aftermath of destruction, where structures have been violently torn down, leaving a scene of devastation. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 49:19, it describes the 'places too small' for the returning exiles, contrasting their former state of 'waste and desolation' (Hebrew: חָרְבָּה, ḥorbâ) with their future restoration. The word emphasizes the tangible, physical result of a destructive act.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 49:19. It appears in a prophetic context of future hope and restoration for Zion. The prophet Isaiah uses it to describe the former ruined state of the land, which will be so dramatically repopulated that it will seem too cramped. The usage is poetic and contrasts demolition with future rebuilding and blessing.
Etymology
הֲרִיסוּת is a feminine noun derived from the root הָרַס (H2040, hāras), meaning 'to tear down, break down, overthrow.' This root is used for the destruction of cities, walls, and altars (e.g., Judges 6:25, 2 Kings 25:10). The noun form הֲרִיסוּת specifically denotes the resulting state or condition of being broken down—the ruins themselves.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the profound biblical theme of death and resurrection, or judgment and restoration. In Isaiah 49, it paints a picture of God's people experiencing the consequences of covenant failure (destruction/exile) but then witnessing God's faithful, miraculous reversal. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the completeness of the former devastation, making the promise of overcrowded restoration all the more powerful and gracious. In the ancient Near East, the demolition of a city's walls and buildings was the ultimate sign of military defeat and subjugation. Ruins (הֲרִיסוּת) were a common, tangible reality after invasions. Isaiah's audience would have intimately understood this as a consequence of war. The prophet repurposes this image of total loss to frame an unbelievable promise of total recovery. חָרְבָּה (ḥorbâ, H2723) — emphasizes desolation and waste, often from divine judgment. שְׁמָמָה (šĕmāmâ, H8074) — emphasizes astonishment and appalling devastation. מַשְׁחֵת (mašḥēṯ, H4889) — often denotes a destroying agent or ruin from corruption.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]