Lexical Summary cham: hot, warm Original Word: חָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hot, warm From chamam; hot -- hot, warm. see HEBREW chamam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chamam Definition hot NASB Translation hot (1), warm (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. חָם adjective warm, hot, see below חמם. חֹם see below חמם. חמא (√ of following; compare Arabic III. חָם adjective hot; — ׳לחם ח Joshua 9:12 hot bread (JE), i.e. freshly baked; בגדים חַמִּים Job 37:17 of garments heated by south wind. — 1. חָם see above. II. חָם see below חמה. Topical Lexicon Physical Warmth in Covenant Narratives In Joshua 9:12 the Gibeonites present “hot” bread as evidence that their journey to Israel was long and arduous: “This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is” (Joshua 9:12). The detail of heat underscores the freshness of the provisions when they departed, strengthening their ruse and convincing Israel of their distant origin. The word חָם therefore functions as a strategic marker in a narrative about covenant formation. The Israelites, deceived by the appearance of cooled bread, swear an oath without first seeking the counsel of the Lord (Joshua 9:14–15). The episode illustrates how sensory impressions can be misleading when discernment and prayer are neglected. Heat as a Sign of Divine Power in Creation Job 37:17 places human experience of heat in the larger framework of God’s sovereign control over the weather: “You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind” (Job 37:17). The oppressive warmth precedes a theophany of thunder, lightning, and rain (Job 37:1–4, 34), reminding readers that the Creator orchestrates atmospheric conditions with purposeful precision. The phenomenon of hot stillness before a storm exposes human frailty, prompting humility and reverence. Symbolic Connotations Throughout Scripture While חָם itself appears only twice, Scripture frequently employs heat to depict: These broader associations allow חָם to serve as an entry point for theological reflection on God’s purifying work and the believer’s passionate obedience. Providence and Temporal Markers In both occurrences, warmth functions as a time stamp. In Joshua it signals recent baking; in Job it signals the immediate atmospheric state before a coming storm. The adjective thus highlights how God weaves tangible moments into His redemptive timeline. Physical temperature becomes a providential clue that guides or warns His people. Christological Foreshadowing The Gibeonite narrative, centered on bread, subtly anticipates the greater covenant sealed by the true “bread from heaven” (John 6:32–35). Whereas Israel was duped by outward warmth, Jesus offers Himself as spiritual nourishment that never cools or decays. The contrast elevates the reliability of the new covenant over the fallible oaths of Joshua’s day. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Discernment: Leaders should test appearances with prayer and consultation of Scripture rather than relying solely on sensory data. Summary חָם (“warm, hot”) may be a simple adjective, yet its sparse usage captures profound lessons on covenant discernment, divine sovereignty, and fervent devotion. Whether warming bread in Joshua or heating the air in Job, the Lord employs physical heat to advance His purposes and instruct His people. Forms and Transliterations חַמִּ֑ים חָ֞ם חם חמים cham chamMim ḥām ḥam·mîm ḥammîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 9:12 HEB: זֶ֣ה ׀ לַחְמֵ֗נוּ חָ֞ם הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ NAS: our bread [was] warm [when] we took it for our provisions KJV: This our bread we took hot [for] our provision INT: This our bread warm our provision out Job 37:17 2 Occurrences |
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be hard, used of curdled milk, Frey).