חֲרַץ (cha.rats)
cha.rats
loin
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun cha.rats refers to the loins or hip region of the body. In biblical usage, this area represents the core of physical strength and vitality, serving as the source from which a person draws power for action. It is not merely an anatomical term but a metonym for human capability and vigor.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 5:6. King Belshazzar’s knees are said to knock together because his loins were loosed when he saw the writing on the wall. The phrase describes a sudden loss of physical control and strength due to terror, illustrating how fear can instantly paralyze even the most robust individual.
Translators often render this as "loins" or "hips," capturing the specific bodily location that signifies inner resolve. The image conveys a complete collapse of composure, where the center of one’s stability fails under overwhelming shock.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word cha.rats refers to the loins or hip region, serving as a metonym for physical strength and inner resolve in biblical literature. In Daniel 5:6, King Belshazzar’s loins are described as loosened when he saw the mysterious writing on the wall. This vivid imagery illustrates how sudden terror can strip away human composure and power, leaving even the strongest individuals paralyzed by fear.
For your faith life, this word offers a sobering reminder of our dependence on God. When circumstances seem overwhelming or when we face moments of intense anxiety, our own strength may feel insufficient. Recognizing that true stability comes from above can bring peace. Instead of relying solely on our own resilience, we can look to the Lord as our source of enduring courage and steadiness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- loin[s]/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַרְצֵ/הּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:6
Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
This is the sole occurrence of the word, where the loosening of the loins signifies Belshazzar’s sudden loss of physical control and composure due to terror.