חֲנָמֵל (cha.na.mal)
cha.na.mal
frost
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 chanamel appears only once in the Bible, in Psalm 78:47, where it describes a destructive force against crops. While most English translations render it as "frost," the exact nature of this phenomenon remains uncertain. Some scholars suggest it could refer to hail, sleet, or a severe flood, reflecting the ambiguity inherent in the original text.
In its single occurrence, chanamel is credited with destroying sycamore trees alongside vineyards and olive groves. This context highlights its role as an instrument of divine judgment within the psalm’s recounting of Israel’s history. The word’s rarity makes it a unique lexical item, offering no broader semantic range to analyze beyond this specific poetic image of agricultural ruin.
Translators face a challenge with chanamel because the Hebrew term does not clearly align with standard words for ice or water damage. The uncertainty stems from its isolated usage and possible textual corruption over time. Despite this, the psalmist uses it to evoke the sudden and total devastation faced by the people, emphasizing the vulnerability of their livelihoods against natural forces.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Psalm 78 tells a sobering story of how quickly prosperity can vanish when we turn away from God. In verse 47, the psalmist lists the sycamore fig trees destroyed by what some translations call 'frost.' This rare Hebrew word captures a sudden, unexpected ruin that strikes without warning. It reminds us that our livelihoods and security are fragile things in this world.
When life feels unstable, it is easy to feel abandoned. Yet this verse does not leave us in despair. Instead, it points us toward the one who holds all natural forces in His hands. The same God who allows storms to test us also promises to sustain us through them. We can trust that our true security rests not in our crops or bank accounts, but in His faithful presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with <the>/ a flood1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּֽ/חֲנָמַֽל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 78:47
He destroyed their vines with hail, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
This verse uniquely uses the term to describe the destruction of sycamore fig trees, highlighting its role as an instrument of divine judgment in the psalm's historical review.