Hebrew word · H2757

חָרִיץ

charitzei

incision

The noun ḥarits comes from the root ḥ-r-ṣ, "to cut, cut sharply, decide." It appears only three times. In 2 Sam 12:31 and 1 Chr 20:3 it names iron cutting tools or threshing sledges ("picks," "harrows"). Here, with "milk," it means something cut: slices or cut blocks of solidified milk.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

a cut, thing cut, sharp instrument, sharp cutting instrument, harrow, hoe

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 1 Samuel 17:18

Range of meaning

The noun ḥarits comes from the root ḥ-r-ṣ, "to cut, cut sharply, decide." It appears only three times. In 2 Sam 12:31 and 1 Chr 20:3 it names iron cutting tools or threshing sledges ("picks," "harrows"). Here, with "milk," it means something cut: slices or cut blocks of solidified milk. Lexicons such as BDB and HALOT give "cuttings (of curdled milk) = cheese" for this verse.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and ESV have "cheeses." BSB has "portions of cheese," NASB and NLT "cuts of cheese," and YLT "cuttings of the cheese." "Cuts / portions" keeps the idea of cutting. A bare "cheeses" loses it.

How it drifted

English "cheese" today suggests aged wheels or hard blocks. In the Iron Age Levant, dairy for travel was usually soft curd, pressed fresh cheese, or dried curd (much like modern Middle Eastern labneh balls or jameed). It was made from goat or sheep milk and cut into pieces.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Septuagint (in the manuscripts that have this verse) has "ten trufalides of milk." Trufalis is a Greek word for a fresh, soft cheese. The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin) has "ten little forms of cheese," meaning moulded pieces. Ancient Near Eastern texts and pastoral archaeology both show soft and dried cheeses as everyday food. Elsewhere in the Bible cheese is called gevinah (Job 10:10) and shefot baqar (2 Sam 17:29). Hebrew had no single fixed word for it.

From the study of 2 Samuel 12:31

Range of meaning

Something cut or sharpened. In 1 Samuel 17:18 the same word means 'cuts' (slices) of cheese. With 'iron' it means a sharp iron implement: a pick, or possibly a threshing-sledge studded with blades.

Against the English

KJV 'harrows of iron' (a farm implement dragged over ground), NASB 'sharp iron instruments', BSB/WEB/NIV/ESV 'iron picks'.

How it drifted

KJV's 'harrows' fits the old reading that captives were crushed under threshing-sledges, an atrocity Amos 1:3 condemns in Damascus ('threshed Gilead with sledges of iron', using the related word חֲרֻצוֹת).

Used elsewhere in the period

The Amos 1:3 parallel shows that iron threshing tools could be used as a picture, or as a means, of war atrocity. The same equipment was also standard farm and quarry gear.

Where it appears

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 17:18 חֲרִצֵ֤י [the] portions of

    Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them.

    Here: "Cuttings of." It comes from a root meaning "to cut, cut into." Here it means cut pieces or slices of a dairy product. Elsewhere the same noun names sharp iron cutting or threshing tools (2 Sam 12:31).

2 Samuel · 1

  1. 2 Samuel 12:31 וּבַחֲרִצֵ֨י and at [the] picks of

    David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

    Here: From a root meaning 'to cut, to sharpen'. These are pointed or cutting iron tools, probably picks or perhaps threshing-sledges (KJV 'harrows').

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 20:3 וּבַחֲרִיצֵ֤י and with [the] sharp instruments of

    David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

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