הָרָא (ha.ra)
ha.ra
Hara
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Hara, or הָרָא, identifies a specific geographical location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Its core meaning is "mountain land," a descriptive term that likely reflects the rugged terrain of the region. This name appears only once in Scripture, recorded in 1 Chronicles 5:26.
In this single occurrence, Hara serves as the final destination for the exiled tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. The text states that the king of Assyria deported them to Hara, along with the Haroh, Habor, and the river Gozan. This placement highlights its role in the historical narrative of the northern kingdom’s fall, marking a place of displacement far from their ancestral homes.
The etymology is straightforward, deriving from the root for "mountain" or "high place." By naming it "mountain land," the biblical author emphasizes the isolation and difficulty of the environment where these communities were settled. The term does not carry theological weight beyond this historical context; it simply names a remote region in Assyria where Israelite exiles were forced to live.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hara appears in Scripture as a place of exile, marking the final destination for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. This location, meaning "mountain land," reflects the rugged and isolated terrain where these communities were forced to settle by the Assyrian kings. The biblical record uses this geographical detail to highlight the severity of their displacement from their ancestral homes.
While Hara itself carries no direct theological instruction for daily living, its presence in 1 Chronicles 5:26 serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It stands as a historical marker of judgment, yet also of God's sovereign control over nations and their leaders. The text notes that these events happened "to this day," anchoring the narrative in a specific historical reality.
For believers today, this passage invites reflection on faithfulness and the long-term effects of spiritual drift. It encourages us to remain rooted in our identity as God's people, regardless of circumstances. The memory of Hara reminds us that God is present even in places of exile, overseeing the movements of kings and the fate of His people with purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Hara1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הָרָא֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 5:26
So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried away the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
This verse identifies Hara as one of the four locations where the Assyrian king deported the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, marking their final place of exile.