הֶ֫רֶג (he.reg)
he.reg
slaughter
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun hereg denotes a violent killing or slaughter, focusing on the act itself rather than the moral justification behind it. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears in just four verses, primarily within Isaiah, Proverbs, and Esther. It describes physical death inflicted through force, often in contexts of war, judgment, or sudden violence.
Its usage carries a stark, concrete weight. For instance, in Esther 9:16, the text notes that the Jews struck down many enemies but did not lay hands on their plunder, highlighting hereg as the act of killing distinct from looting. Similarly, Isaiah 34:2 uses it to describe God’s judgment against nations, framing slaughter as a direct consequence of divine wrath.
This word stands apart from terms for murder (ratsach) or accidental death (nakah), which carry different legal and theological implications. Hereg is neutral regarding intent but heavy on impact; it simply records the cessation of life through violence. Its rarity in Scripture suggests it was reserved for significant, often catastrophic, events rather than everyday conflict.
Translators typically render hereg as "slaughter" or "killing," preserving its blunt force. The word serves as a linguistic marker for moments where human life is abruptly ended by power, reminding readers of the gravity of violence in biblical narrative. Its limited occurrence underscores the seriousness with which such acts are recorded in sacred text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word hereg points to the stark reality of violent death. It does not judge the heart behind the act but records the physical end of life through force. In Scripture, this term appears rarely, marking moments where violence erupts with sudden and catastrophic force. It reminds us that life is fragile and that bloodshed carries a heavy weight in the eyes of God.
Yet even within these dark passages, there is a call to compassion. Proverbs 24:11 urges us to rescue those being led away to slaughter. This invitation challenges us to protect the vulnerable and stand against injustice. It shows that while violence may be present in our world, we are called to be agents of preservation and mercy.
Ultimately, this word highlights the gravity of human conflict and the need for divine justice. It points us toward a hope where violence is no more, and peace reigns. In times of fear or uncertainty, remember that God sees the suffering of the innocent and promises to uphold what is right.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to the/ slaughter1×
- slaughter1×
- like/ [the] slaughter of1×
- and/ slaughter1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ֝/הֶ֗רֶג1×
- כְּ/הֶ֥רֶג1×
- וְ/הֶ֖רֶג1×
- הֶ֣רֶג1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
This verse uniquely applies hereg to an ethical imperative, urging believers to actively rescue those facing imminent violent death.
-
Esther 9:5
The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.
Here the term describes the defensive violence of the Jews, distinguishing the act of killing from the subsequent handling of plunder.
-
Isaiah 30:25
There will be brooks and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
The phrase 'day of the great slaughter' uses hereg to depict a catastrophic eschatological event where natural order is disrupted by divine judgment.