חֵרֵשׁ (che.resh)
che.resh
deaf
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for deaf, che.resh, appears in Scripture not merely as a medical description but as a profound symbol of spiritual receptivity. In Exodus, God reminds Moses that He is the Creator who determines human capacities, establishing that our ability to hear His voice is a gift from Him alone. This truth anchors our identity: we do not generate spiritual insight by ourselves; it comes from the One who made us.
Yet the biblical narrative does not leave us in silence. The prophets promise a time when the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, pointing to God’s restorative power. For believers today, this word invites humility and hope. It reminds us that when we feel unable to understand God’s will, He is actively working to open our hearts. His grace bridges the gap between our limited perception and His perfect truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ deaf [people]1×
- deaf [people]1×
- deaf1×
- and/ deaf [people]1×
- and/ deaf1×
- a deaf [person]1×
- O/ deaf [people]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֵרֵ֔שׁ2×
- הַ/חֵרְשִׁ֖ים2×
- חֵרְשִׁ֖ים1×
- וְ/חֵרֵ֖שׁ1×
- וְ/חֵרְשִׁ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 4:11
Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh?
This verse establishes God’s sovereignty over human faculties, reminding us that our capacity to hear Him is a divine gift rather than a natural right.
-
Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Here the word describes a future act of restoration where God personally unstops the ears of the deaf, symbolizing His power to bring clarity and understanding.
-
Leviticus 19:14
“‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
This command prohibits exploiting those who cannot hear, linking respect for human dignity directly to reverence for God.