חֶ֫רֶט (che.ret)
che.ret
stylus
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun che.ret refers to a sharp instrument used for engraving, specifically a stylus or graving tool. In the ancient world, this was the essential implement for inscribing text onto hard surfaces like stone or metal tablets. Its primary function was to carve durable records, making it a key object in the creation of permanent legal and religious documents.
This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in significant contexts involving divine instruction. In Exodus 32:16, the text describes the tablets as being "written with the finger of God," implying that che.ret was the physical tool used to execute this celestial inscription. Similarly, Isaiah 40:15 uses the term metaphorically, suggesting that no stylus is sufficient to measure or contain the vastness of God’s wisdom and power.
The rarity of che.ret highlights its specialized nature. Unlike common writing instruments like reed pens for papyrus, a graving tool was reserved for high-stakes, enduring inscriptions. Its association with the "finger of God" in Exodus underscores the authority and permanence of the Law it helped create, marking these words as unchangeable and sacred.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word che.ret refers to a sharp stylus used for engraving hard surfaces like stone or metal. In ancient times, this tool was essential for creating permanent records, such as legal contracts or sacred texts. Unlike ink on papyrus, which could fade, inscriptions made with a che.ret were durable and enduring.
In Exodus 32:4, the Israelites use an engraving tool to fashion a golden calf. This act highlights the contrast between human attempts to create permanent objects of worship and the living God. The tool itself is neutral, but its use here shows how people often try to capture divine power in physical forms.
Understanding this word reminds us that God’s words are not easily erased. While human creations may crumble, the truth He speaks remains steadfast. We can trust that His promises are as permanent as stone inscribed by a skilled hand.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ a stylus of1×
- with <the>/ tool1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/חֶ֔רֶט1×
- בְּ/חֶ֣רֶט1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 32:4
He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
This verse shows the che.ret being used to create a physical idol, contrasting human craftsmanship with divine authority.
-
Isaiah 8:1
Yahweh said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’;
Here the command to write on a tablet implies the permanence of God’s message, though the specific word for the tool is not in this candidate list, the context of engraving relates to the concept.