חָמָס (cha.mas)
cha.mas
violence
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 44 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chamās denotes violent wrongdoing, oppression, and injustice. It describes acts that violate another person’s rights or safety, often resulting in physical harm or unjust gain. In Genesis 6:11, the earth is described as being filled with chamās, a condition that leads God to judge humanity for its moral corruption.
Its meaning extends beyond physical force to include legal and social abuse. A false witness is called an "witness of chamās" in Exodus 23:1, highlighting how deception inflicts harm similar to physical violence. The word also covers the ill-gotten gains obtained through such acts, as seen in Amos 3:10, where storing silver in houses of violence is condemned.
Chamās appears frequently in the Psalms and prophets, who cry out against its prevalence. In Habakkuk 1:3, the prophet asks why God tolerates chamās when he sees destruction and strife. The term underscores the seriousness of injustice in biblical ethics, portraying it as a fundamental breach of community trust and divine law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chamās describes more than physical force; it captures the deep injustice that fractures community trust and violates human dignity. It includes legal abuse, false testimony, and the oppression of the vulnerable. When Scripture mentions this term, it highlights how such actions corrupt society and separate people from God’s design for peace.
Understanding chamās helps us recognize that fairness is not merely a social rule but a divine expectation. The prophets and psalmists cried out against these wrongs because they harm both the victim and the soul of the community. This awareness invites us to examine our own words and actions, ensuring we do not contribute to the suffering of others.
God’s response to chamās is consistent: He defends the oppressed and rejects those who thrive on injustice. In a world where unfairness often feels overwhelming, this truth offers hope. We can trust that God sees every hidden wrong and cares deeply about justice. This knowledge encourages us to seek peace and integrity in our daily interactions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 44 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- violence27×
- violence<s>2×
- injustice2×
- and/ violence2×
- and/ [the] violence of2×
- [the] violence of2×
- violence/ my1×
- the/ violence1×
- injustice/ my1×
- from/ violence1×
- from/ [the] violence of1×
- for/ violence1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָמָֽס\׃7×
- חָמָ֣ס5×
- חָמָ֖ס5×
- חָמָ֥ס4×
- חָמָ֑ס3×
- חָמָס֙2×
- חָ֭מָס2×
- וַ/חֲמַס\־2×
- מֵ/חָמָ֖ס1×
- מֵ/חֲמַ֛ס1×
- לְ/חָמָ֣ס1×
- חָמָֽס\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:11
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
This verse establishes chamās as the primary reason for the flood, showing that widespread injustice corrupts the entire earth.
-
Exodus 23:1
“You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
Here the term extends to legal deception, proving that false witness is treated with the same seriousness as physical violence.
-
Psalms 72:14
He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
The psalmist looks forward to a time when God will actively rescue people from oppression and value their lives highly.
-
Proverbs 4:17
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
This metaphor illustrates how the wicked find their sustenance in wrongdoing, making injustice central to their identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chamās mean in the Bible?
Is chamās only about physical violence?
Why does God judge chamās so severely?
How does chamās relate to justice?
Every Occurrence (44 verses across 17 books)
Genesis 4 verses
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:13God said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will…
Genesis 16:5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had…
Genesis 49:5“Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.