חָמַס (cha.mas)
cha.mas
to injure
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chamas describes the act of inflicting injury or doing violence, covering both physical harm and ethical injustice. It appears in seven verses, primarily within Job, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah, where it characterizes actions that violate another person’s safety or rights. The term captures a broad spectrum of wrongdoing, from overt brutality to subtle moral wrongs that disrupt community harmony.
Its usage often highlights the severity of social disorder. In Jeremiah, for instance, the word underscores the pervasive violence that leads to national judgment, while in Job it reflects the suffering caused by unjust treatment. The sources distinguish between physical aggression and ethical violations, showing how chamas bridges bodily harm and moral failure. This dual nature makes it a powerful descriptor of societal collapse, where both lawlessness and cruelty coexist.
Translators typically render chamas as "violence" or "wrongdoing," depending on context. The noun form chamah is more common in Scripture, but the verb emphasizes the active commission of these acts. Its presence in prophetic literature signals a breakdown of justice, reminding readers that such behavior invites divine reckoning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chamas describes actions that injure others, whether through physical violence or ethical injustice. It captures a broad spectrum of wrongdoing, from overt brutality to subtle moral wrongs that disrupt community harmony. This term reminds us that God cares deeply about how we treat one another, seeing both the visible harm and the hidden unfairness in our interactions.
In prophetic literature, chamas often signals a breakdown of justice where lawlessness and cruelty coexist. It highlights the severity of social disorder and shows that such behavior invites divine reckoning. For believers, this serves as a sobering call to examine our own conduct, ensuring we do not contribute to the suffering of others through negligence or active harm.
Understanding chamas helps us appreciate the biblical emphasis on protecting the vulnerable, such as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. It challenges us to pursue justice and righteousness in our daily lives, reflecting God's heart for those who are oppressed. By avoiding actions that cause injury or injustice, we can foster communities where safety and dignity are preserved.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you treat violently1×
- you do violence1×
- they have suffered violence1×
- they do violence to1×
- he will wrong1×
- and/ he has treated violently1×
- [is] doing wrong to1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּחְמֹֽסוּ\׃1×
- תַּחְמֹ֔סוּ1×
- נֶחְמְס֥וּ1×
- יַחְמֹ֣ס1×
- חֹמֵ֣ס1×
- חָמְס֖וּ1×
- וַ/יַּחְמֹ֤ס1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 22:3
Yahweh says: “Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong. Do no violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Don’t shed innocent blood in this place.
This verse explicitly commands the people to do no violence (chamas) against the vulnerable, linking the term directly to social justice and protection of the weak.
-
Job 21:27
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
Here, chamas is used in the context of plotting plans to wrong someone, showing its application in intentional ethical violations rather than just physical acts.
-
Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
The prophets are accused of doing violence to the law, illustrating how chamas can describe a corruption of divine instruction and authority.