חֵמָר (che.mar)
che.mar
bitumen
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun che.mar refers to a sticky, black substance known in English as bitumen, pitch, or asphalt. In the ancient Near East, this material was naturally occurring and highly valued for its waterproofing properties. It appears in Scripture primarily in contexts involving construction, protection, or judgment, serving as a practical resource for sealing structures against water or fire.
This word occurs only three times in the Old Testament, each instance carrying significant narrative weight. In Genesis 11:3, the people of Shinar use it as mortar to bind bricks together for the tower at Babel, highlighting human ambition and engineering. Later, in Exodus 2:3, Moses’ mother places him in a basket coated with che.mar and pitch to keep the Nile’s waters out, turning a tool of construction into an instrument of preservation. Finally, in Genesis 14:10, the kings flee into the bitumen pits at Sodom, where the substance becomes part of the landscape’s destruction.
The consistency of these references shows che.mar as both a useful material and a marker of divine action. Whether sealing a child’s ark or hardening the ground of judgment, the word points to a tangible element that shapes biblical history. Translators typically render it as "bitumen" or "pitch," preserving its physical reality without softening its association with the harsh, sticky earth.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word che.mar refers to bitumen or tar, a sticky black substance used in the ancient Near East for waterproofing and sealing. In Scripture, it appears only three times, each instance marking a pivotal moment where human plans meet divine oversight. It is not merely a building material but a symbol of how God uses ordinary resources to protect life or bring about judgment.
In Genesis 11:3, the builders of Babel used bitumen as mortar for their tower, an act of pride that led to confusion. Yet in Exodus 2:3, the same substance sealed Moses’ basket, preserving the child who would later lead Israel out of Egypt. This contrast shows that God can take what humans use for self-exaltation and repurpose it for salvation. The bitumen that hardened the ground at Sodom (Genesis 14:10) also reminds us that divine justice is real, but so is His mercy.
For your faith, this word invites trust in God’s sovereignty over both creation and history. Whether you face trials or triumphs, remember that God works through the ordinary to accomplish His purposes. His plans are not thwarted by human ambition, nor ignored by suffering. Instead, He weaves even the stickiest circumstances into a story of redemption.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with <the>/ bitumen1×
- bitumen1×
- and/ <the>/ bitumen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֵמָ֔ר1×
- וְ/הַ֣/חֵמָ֔ר1×
- בַ/חֵמָ֖ר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 11:3
They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
This verse highlights bitumen as the mortar for Babel’s tower, symbolizing human pride and the futility of self-reliant ambition.
-
Exodus 2:3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
Here, bitumen seals Moses’ basket, transforming a construction material into an instrument of divine preservation for Israel’s deliverer.
-
Genesis 14:10
Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills.
The bitumen pits at Sodom become a trap for fleeing kings, illustrating the tangible reality of divine judgment on sin.