הֲרִיסוּת (ha.ri.sut)
ha.ri.sut
ruins
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun harisut refers to a state of being broken down or laid waste. It describes the physical aftermath of destruction, specifically ruins or the debris left behind after an overthrow. The term captures the tangible reality of what remains when a structure or community has been dismantled.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 49:19. In this context, it lists the "ruins" among the signs of restoration that God promises to Zion. The presence of these ruins serves as evidence of past devastation, yet their mention within a promise of return highlights the depth of the recovery ahead.
The root underlying harisut relates to breaking or crushing. This etymology emphasizes the forceful nature of the destruction rather than natural decay. Translators typically render it as "ruins" or "destruction," conveying the sense of a place that has been rendered uninhabitable through violent upheaval.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word harisut describes the stark reality of ruins—the debris left after a structure has been broken down. It is not merely decay, but the result of forceful destruction. When we see such images in Scripture, they remind us that even the most shattered places hold potential for renewal.
In Isaiah 49:19, God points to these ruins as evidence of past pain, yet immediately promises restoration. This shows that our current brokenness does not define our final story. The same God who allows seasons of loss is also the one who rebuilds what was shattered.
When you face areas of your life that feel like harisut, remember that ruin is often a precursor to reconstruction. God sees the debris and has a plan to restore it. You are not forgotten in the wreckage; you are being prepared for a new beginning.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- destruction/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֲרִֽסֻתֵ֑י/ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 49:19
“For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now that land will be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
This verse uniquely lists ruins among signs of future restoration, showing that God acknowledges past devastation while promising complete recovery.