Table of Contents
hereb
הרב
'hereb' has traditionally been translated in two very different ways. Essentially, in broad strokes, it is understood to mean firstly a state of ruin or devastation, and secondly a weapon that causes such a state.
'hereb' is a very clear example of some of the problems with the traditional approach. Possibly due to an overly contextual approach of traditional interpretation which then drove translation, the general concept of “ruin” has become highly de-standardized, taking on a range of nuances that is unsupported etymologically, and may not necessarily even be supported contextually.
Below are some examples of the types of translations we typically find, with associated “Strong Number” entries taken from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, an index created in 1890 which attempted to manually collate over three hundred thousand words of a dead language without the advantage of computer assisted technologies such as databases and search tools.
- Strongnumber 2717 - dried, parched, desolate, devastated, laid waste (42 instances)
- Strongnumber 2718 - destroyed (1 instance)
- Strongnumber 2719 - sword, dagger, tool (413 instances)
- Strongnumber 2720 - dry, desolate, waste (8 instances)
- Strongnumber 2721 - dry, drought, heat, ruin, waste (16 instances)
- Strongnumber 2722 - “Horeb”; ostensibly as the proper name of a specific place. (17 instances)
- Strongnumber 2723 - waste, desolate, ruin, desert (42 instances)
- Strongnumber 2724 - dry, dry ground (8 instances)
- Strongnumber 2725 - drought (1 instance)
Even with only a very quick glance, it is immediately apparent that there are really only three or four “different” interpretations at play here. There is no rational reason for this single word, with a single spelling, to be split into nine separate dictionary entries. This division is merely an artifact of outdated and outmoded analytical methods.
Several more sensible divisions could be proposed. For example:
- The 413 instances assigned to Strongnumber 2719 indeed do tend to refer to an object that can be used as a weapon that can caused damage. What is not clear is the type of weapon. Although “sword” is the common interpretation, it might just as well refer to any other weapon. Considering the fact that the Hyberi were primarily nomadic pastoralists, it would more likely be a staff, or maybe a dirk or cudgel. One clear exception within this subset is Exodus 20:25 which very clearly references a tool used to cut or shape stone, most likely a chisel.
- There is a group that may or may not refer specifically to “dryness” (dried, parched, drought, dry ground), but these instances are spread across the Strongnumbers (2717, 2720, 2721, 2723, 2724, 2725)
- Another group seems to indicate a state of ruin, devastation, or destruction, presumably brought about by either intent or neglect. Again, these instances are spread across the Strongnumbers (2717, 2720, 2721, 2723, 2724, 2725)
- Lastly, we have (under Strongnumber 2722), “Horeb” ostensibly as the proper name of a specific place. The context of each of these instances do not suggest the necessity of interpreting 'hereb' as a proper name. Rather, the word can be just as suitably interpreted as an adjective describing the place as “a ruin” or “a desert” or something to that effect.
Looking at the four items above, we can now see that if the last bullet point is interpreted as an adjective, the second through fourth items are essentially the same. In every case we are describing a place as being barren, dry, and desolate. In many of the instances, there is an implication in the context that the place was once thriving but has since become desolate. In other words, we can fairly consistently interpret the place as “a ruin”.
This leaves us with only one other interpretation needed - that of the object that caused the ruin - “a weapon”.
This bears further investigation.