חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev)
che.rev
sword
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 267 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chereb primarily denotes a sword, but its scope is broader than modern usage suggests. It covers any sharp cutting instrument, including knives, razors, and agricultural tools like axes or mattocks used for shaping stone. This wide range reflects the word’s focus on the function of cutting rather than just the specific shape of a weapon.
Its etymology connects it to roots meaning "to be dry" or "drought," likely because both the arid land and the sword bring devastation. In poetic passages, this destructive imagery extends to the curved tusks of a hippopotamus (Job 40:19), emphasizing raw power. The term also appears metaphorically for divine judgment, as when prophets describe famine or war as the "sword" of the Lord.
Translators must carefully choose between "sword," "knife," or "tool" depending on context. In Judges and Jeremiah, it often signals military conflict or national disaster. Yet in Exodus 20:25, it refers to a simple stone-cutting tool, showing that chereb is fundamentally about sharp implements capable of dividing or destroying.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chereb covers more than just a weapon of war. It includes knives and tools used to shape stone or harvest crops. This wide range shows that sharp objects are meant for creation as well as destruction. When we see this term in Scripture, it reminds us that God cares about the details of daily life, from building altars to preparing food.
Yet the word also carries a heavy weight when it describes judgment or conflict. In Genesis 3:24, a flaming sword guards the way back to the tree of life after humanity falls. This image marks a serious break in our relationship with God, but it also points to the need for protection and order. We can find comfort in knowing that even in times of danger, God remains sovereign over the outcomes.
For your faith, this word invites you to consider how you use your own resources. Whether you are building something new or facing a difficult season, remember that God provides both the strength to create and the wisdom to navigate conflict. Trust in His guidance, knowing that He is with you through every sharp edge of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 267 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] sword51×
- a sword46×
- by the/ sword35×
- with the/ sword28×
- the/ sword23×
- sword/ his15×
- to the/ sword10×
- [the] sword of9×
- sword/ your7×
- sword5×
- and/ sword/ his5×
- sword/ my4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֶ֔רֶב20×
- חָ֑רֶב17×
- חָֽרֶב\׃16×
- בַּ/חֶ֖רֶב13×
- חֶ֖רֶב12×
- חֶ֥רֶב11×
- חֶ֗רֶב9×
- הַ/חֶ֖רֶב8×
- בֶּ/חָֽרֶב\׃8×
- חֶ֣רֶב7×
- הַ/חֶ֔רֶב7×
- חֶ֙רֶב֙6×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
This verse uses the term for a flaming sword to show divine protection and the separation caused by sin, highlighting God's sovereignty over access to eternal life.
-
Exodus 20:25
If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.
Here the word refers to a stone-cutting tool, emphasizing that even ordinary work tools must be treated with reverence when used in worship contexts.
-
Leviticus 26:25
I will bring a sword upon you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant. You will be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you. You will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
The sword is described as executing vengeance for breaking the covenant, illustrating how serious disobedience to God's laws can lead to national consequences.
-
Exodus 18:4
The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
Moses recalls being delivered from Pharaoh's sword, showing how God acts as a protector who rescues His people from immediate mortal danger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chereb mean in the Bible?
Is chereb always a weapon?
Why is the sword mentioned in Genesis 3?
How does chereb relate to divine judgment?
Every Occurrence (267 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 6 verses
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned…
Genesis 27:40You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you will…
Genesis 31:26Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the…
Genesis 34:25On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword,…
Genesis 34:26They killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went…
Genesis 48:22Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword…