חָרֵשׁ
cha.resh (H2790B)
be quiet
AI Word Study
# חָרֵשׁ (Charash): Silence and Restraint in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *charash* appears 47 times in the Bible with the primary meaning "be quiet." This verb describes the state of remaining silent or still, encompassing both the physical act of ceasing speech and the broader condition of quiet inaction. The word functions as a direct representation of silence as a deliberate or imposed condition, making it a key term for moments when speech is withheld or sound is absent. Given its substantial frequency across biblical texts, *charash* carried practical and symbolic weight in ancient Hebrew communication. The term could describe situations ranging from personal silence (choosing not to speak) to enforced quiet (being silenced), capturing an important human behavior. In a literary and religious context where words held power and communication was central to instruction and covenant, the repeated use of this word suggests that silence itself was worthy of explicit mention and carried meaningful significance—whether as wisdom, restraint, consent, or submission to divine will. The 47 occurrences indicate that silence was neither incidental nor negligible in biblical narrative and instruction, but rather a recognized state warranting its own vocabulary. This suggests ancient Hebrew speakers distinguished between active quiet and mere absence of noise, treating silence as a notable condition worthy of specific verbal expression.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah, his daughter; and his sons were with his livestock in the field. Jacob held his peace until they came.
and her father hears her vow and her pledge with which she has bound her soul, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge with which she has bound her soul shall stand.
and her husband hears it, and says nothing to her in the day that he hears it; then her vows shall stand, and her pledges with which she has bound her soul shall stand.
and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her and didn’t disallow her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge with which she bound her soul shall stand.
But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges which are on her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her in the day that he heard them.
The Gazites were told, “Samson is here!” They surrounded him and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, “Wait until morning light; then we will kill him.”
They said to him, “Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”
But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don’t you speak a word of bringing the king back?”
But the people stayed quiet, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.
For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.”
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?
Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
To you, Yahweh, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me, lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.
When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
“Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
“Keep silent before me, islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let’s meet together for judgment.
“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart! My heart trembles within me. I can’t hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Then all the princes came to Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.
The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.