חָרֵף (cha.reph)
cha.reph
Hareph
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name ḥāreph appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, at 1 Chronicles 2:51, where it identifies a specific ancestor within the tribe of Judah. He is listed as the son of Hur and the father of Bethgader, placing him in the genealogical line of Caleb during the period spanning Egypt to the wilderness.
Its meaning is rendered as "a plucking off," likely referring to hair or perhaps a harvest. This etymology distinguishes it from other names in the same family cluster, such as Uri ("my light") or Shobal ("returning"), by focusing on an action of removal rather than illumination or restoration.
As a proper noun with no narrative context beyond its listing, the word serves primarily as a marker of lineage. Its single occurrence underscores how biblical genealogies preserve the names of individuals who may otherwise remain unknown, anchoring the history of Judah in specific familial connections.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name ḥāreph appears just once in Scripture, tucked into the genealogy of Judah at 1 Chronicles 2:51. It identifies a man named Hareph, son of Hur and father of Bethgader. The meaning likely points to an action of removal or plucking, perhaps of hair or harvest, setting it apart from names that speak of light or return.
While we know little about Hareph personally, his inclusion reminds us that God values every link in the chain of history. These names are not merely administrative details but evidence of a faithful lineage preserved through generations. Each name anchors the story of Judah in real familial connections, showing that God remembers those who may otherwise remain unknown.
This single mention invites us to trust in God’s meticulous care for His people’s history. Just as Hareph was remembered in Scripture, so too is every life held in divine remembrance. We can find comfort in knowing that our own place in God’s story is secure, even when we feel unseen by the world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hareph1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָרֵ֖ף1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 2:51
Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
This verse places Hareph within the lineage of Caleb, connecting him to the tribe of Judah and establishing his role as a bridge between Hur and Bethgader in the ancestral record.