Hebrew word · H2766

חָרִם

charim

Harim

A proper name for a priestly house (Ezra 2:39; Neh 7:42; 10:5; 12:15) and also for a lay family (Ezra 2:32; 10:31; Neh 3:11). The meaning of the name is uncertain.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.8

§ Harim = "dedicated"

1) a priest in the time of David who had charge of the 3rd course

2) head of a family of exiles totalling 1017 who returned with Zerubbabel

3) another head of a family of exiles totalling 320 who returned with Zerubbabel

4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah

5) a ruler of the people under Nehemiah

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 Ezra 10:21

Range of meaning

A proper name for a priestly house (Ezra 2:39; Neh 7:42; 10:5; 12:15) and also for a lay family (Ezra 2:32; 10:31; Neh 3:11). The meaning of the name is uncertain. It is usually connected to the root ḥ-r-m, either 'dedicated, devoted' or, as some lexicons suggest, 'having a slit/flattened nose' (compare ḥārum in Leviticus 21:18).

Against the English

All English versions simply transliterate the name, which is correct.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Chronicles 24:8 names Harim as the third of the twenty-four priestly divisions that took turns serving in the temple. Ezra 2:36–39 lists exactly four priestly houses returning: Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, Immer, Pashhur and Harim.

From the study of Nehemiah 12:15

Range of meaning

A personal name that became the name of a family or clan. Its origin is debated. One proposal links it to ḥ-r-m, 'to set apart, devote'. Another, given in BDB, takes it as 'flat-nosed' or 'slit-nosed'. Neither is certain.

Against the English

Every English version just transliterates it as 'Harim'. The name carries no meaning in the verse.

Used elsewhere in the period

Harim is the third priestly division (1 Chr 24:8). Ezra 2:39 and Neh 7:42 record 1,017 returnees. Members appear among those with foreign wives (Ezra 10:21) and among the priestly signers of the covenant (Neh 10:5). There is also a separate lay clan called Harim (Ezra 2:32; 10:31).

Where it appears

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 24:8 לְחָרִם֙ to Harim

    the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

Ezra · 4

  1. Ezra 2:32 חָרִ֔ם Harim

    the descendants of Harim, 320;

  2. Ezra 2:39 חָרִ֔ם Harim

    and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

  3. Ezra 10:21 חָרִ֑ם Harim

    From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

    Here: One of the four priestly clans that came back from Babylon (Ezra 2:39). It is not the lay family of the same name in Ezra 10:31. The strong pause mark under this word cuts the line into a heading and a list.

  4. Ezra 10:31 חָרִ֑ם Harim

    From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

Nehemiah · 6

  1. Nehemiah 3:11 חָרִ֔ם Harim

    Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Ovens.

  2. Nehemiah 7:35 חָרִ֔ם Harim

    the descendants of Harim, 320;

  3. Nehemiah 7:42 חָרִ֔ם Harim

    and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.

  4. Nehemiah 10:5 חָרִ֥ם Harim

    Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

  5. Nehemiah 10:27 חָרִ֖ם Harim

    Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

  6. Nehemiah 12:15 לְחָרִ֣ם of Harim

    of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

    Here: The prefix le- marks the priestly family (the 'father's house'). Harim is the family name, so the phrase means 'as for the house of Harim'. Harim was an old priestly family: it is the third division in 1 Chronicles 24:8, and 1,017 'sons of Harim' came back from exile according to Ezra 2:39.

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