חֶ֫מֶר (che.mer)
che.mer
wine
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun che.mer refers specifically to wine, appearing in Scripture with a distinct poetic flavor. Its usage is rare, occurring only once in the Old Testament within Deuteronomy 32:14. In this context, it describes the rich provisions of the land, highlighting wine as a symbol of abundance and blessing.
Lexical sources note that che.mer is essentially an Aramaic form, sharing its root with the more common Hebrew word yayin. While yayin is the standard term used throughout most of the Bible, che.mer carries a stylistic weight, often found in elevated or lyrical passages like this poetic song in Deuteronomy.
This single occurrence underscores how language choices in Scripture can signal tone as well as meaning. By using che.mer here, the text aligns with the ancient Near Eastern poetic tradition, offering a nuanced picture of prosperity that feels both concrete and ceremonially significant.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for wine here, che.mer, appears only once in the Old Testament within Moses' song in Deuteronomy. It describes a rich provision from the land, paired with butter, milk, and fat. This rare term adds a poetic weight to the description of God's blessings, highlighting abundance as a tangible gift.
For your faith, this reminds us that God cares about the good things in life. Wine is not just a drink; it represents joy and celebration given by the Creator. When we enjoy these gifts, we acknowledge His generosity. The text invites us to see everyday blessings as part of a larger story of care.
Even in rare moments, Scripture uses specific language to shape our understanding. This single verse shows how detail matters. It encourages gratitude for the simple pleasures that sustain and delight us, grounding our thankfulness in the concrete reality of God's provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wine1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָֽמֶר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:14
butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine.
This verse uses che.mer to describe the finest provisions of the land, linking wine directly to divine abundance and blessing.