Hebrew word · H2559

חָמַק

chamak

to turn away

To turn aside, turn away, slip off. Qal only here. In the Hithpael (a reflexive form) in Jer 31:22: "How long will you turn this way and that (titḥammāqîn), faithless daughter?" The related noun ḥammûqîm in Song 7:1/2 means "curves" (of the thighs).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to withdraw, turn around, turn away

1a) (Qal) to turn away

1b) (Hithpael) to turn about, vacillate, turn hither and thither

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Song of Songs 5:6

Range of meaning

To turn aside, turn away, slip off. Qal only here. In the Hithpael (a reflexive form) in Jer 31:22: "How long will you turn this way and that (titḥammāqîn), faithless daughter?" The related noun ḥammûqîm in Song 7:1/2 means "curves" (of the thighs).

Against the English

"Withdrawn himself" (KJV), "left" (WEB), "turned" (BSB). All are fair. The rare root suggests a turning or curving movement out of view, not simply "leaving".

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare even in Biblical Hebrew. Later Hebrew and Aramaic use the root for turning or curving. HALOT and BDB both give "turn away".

From the study of Jeremiah 31:22

Range of meaning

The root means "turn away, slip off" (Song 5:6, where the beloved "had turned away"). This reflexive form, found only here, suggests turning this way and that, or holding back.

Against the English

BSB "wander," KJV "go about," WEB "go here and there." These suggest drifting around. The Hebrew points more to hesitation: she has been told the road (v. 21) but keeps hanging back.

Used elsewhere in the period

Its only other uses are in Song of Songs 5:6 (simple form). Lexicons such as BDB and HALOT give "turn hither and thither" / "hesitate" for this form.

Where it appears

Song of Songs · 1

  1. Song of Songs 5:6 חָמַ֣ק he had turned away

    I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.

    Here: A rare verb: he had turned aside or slipped away. Its only other use (Jer 31:22) describes someone turning this way and that, and a related noun means the curves of the thighs (Song 7:1/2). The picture is a quick, curving exit out of sight.

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 31:22 תִּתְחַמָּקִ֔ין will you vacillate !

    How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”

    Here: This reflexive verb form appears only here. It pictures someone turning back and forth and hanging back, unable to commit to the road home. It does not describe aimless travel. The verb is feminine singular because it addresses the "daughter."

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.