Original Word: חָרַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charaph.
Pronunciation: khaw-raf'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-raf')
KJV: betroth, blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to pull off
2. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping)
3. specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender)
4. (figuratively) to carp at, i.e. defame
5. denominative (from H2779) to spend the winter

betroth, blaspheme, defy, rail, reproach, upbraid

A primitive root; to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at, i.e. Defame; denominative (from choreph) to spend the winter -- betroth, blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid.

see HEBREW choreph

I. [חָרַף] verb reproach (Late Hebrew Pi`el id.; Aramaic חֲרַף id., sharpen, sharp, keen, acute); —

Qal Imperfect לֹאיֶֿחֱרַף לְבָבִי מִיָּמָ֑י Job 27:6; Participle suffix חֹרְפִי Psalm 119:42; Proverbs 27:11; חוֺרְפֶיךָ Psalm 69:10.

Piel. Perfect חֵרֵף Judges 5:18 6t.; חֵרַפְתָּ Isaiah 37:23 4t. etc. + 10 t. perfect; Imperfect יְחָרֵף 2 Samuel 21:21; 1 Chronicles 20:7; יְחָ֫רֶף Psalm 74:10 2t. suffix; Infinitive לְחָרֵף Isaiah 37:4 5t.; בְּחָֽרְפָם 2 Samuel 23:9 (but see below); Participle מְחָרֵף Psalm 44:17; — reproach, — properly say sharp things against, — taunt, with accusative Judges 8:15; 1 Samuel 17:10,25,26,36,45; 2 Samuel 21:21 1Chron 20:7; God, by injustice to the poor Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 17:5; Yahweh, by idolatry Isaiah 65:7; Yahweh as the God of Israel 2 Kings 19:4,16,22,23 = Isaiah 37:4; Isaiah 37:17; Isaiah 37:23; Isaiah 37:24 2Chronicles 32:17 (with לְ); with בְּ, Philistines 2 Samuel 23:9 ᵑ0 (but read בְּפַס דַּמִּים at Pas-dammîm, proper name, of a location, as 1 Chronicles 11:12 We Dr); reproach, Nehemiah 6:13 + Neh 42:11; Neh 44:17; Neh 55:13; Neh 57:4; Neh 74:10; Neh 74:18; Neh 79:12; Neh 89:52 (twice in verse); Neh 102:9; Zephaniah 2:8,10; in poetry and figurative, despise, scorn, נפשׁ למוּת ׳ח Judges 5:18.

III. [חָרַף] verb denominative remain in harvest-time (so Arabic ; English to winter) — only

Qal Imperfect3feminine singular כָּלבֶּֿהֱמַת הָאָרֶץ עָלָיו תֶּחֱרָ֑ף Isaiah 18:6 all the beasts of the earth shall spend the harvest-time upon it.

IV. [חָרַף] verb acquire (compare Arabic turn a thing from its proper way or manner, but also gain, acquire [subsistence] for one's family) — only

Niph`al Participle f. שִׁפְחָה נֶחֱרֶפֶת לְאִישׁ a maidservant acquired for a man (namely as his concubine) Leviticus 19:26 (H; compare Late Hebrew חֲרוּפָה of woman designated for a man).

Sense and Scope of the Verb

חָרַף portrays deliberate, verbal contempt—words that seek to belittle, defy, or blaspheme. About forty-one Old Testament occurrences range from battlefield bravado to covenantal warnings, consistently linking human mockery with an affront to the LORD whose honor undergirds Israel’s identity.

Key Narrative Occurrences

• David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:10, 26, 36). Goliath boasts, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day” (17:10). David sees more than a military threat; the Philistine has insulted “the armies of the living God,” and the LORD vindicates His name.
• Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:4, 22; Isaiah 37:4, 23). Rabshakeh’s propaganda is a “taunt against the living God.” Isaiah answers, “Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? … the Holy One of Israel!” (2 Kings 19:22). Overnight judgment of 185,000 Assyrians shows that God defends His reputation.
• Post-exilic Opposition (Nehemiah 4:4; compare Psalm 74:10). Rebuilding the wall draws ridicule, yet prayer turns reproach into dependence upon divine help.

Covenantal and Ethical Dimensions

Proverbs widens the scope: “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker” (Proverbs 14:31); “Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker” (17:5). Verbal scorn of any image-bearer strikes at the Creator. Leviticus 24:16 treats blasphemy as a capital offense, showing that contempt for God destabilizes covenant society.

Prophetic Usage

Prophets promise the reversal of reproach. Joel 2:17 pleads, “Spare Your people… Why should they say… ‘Where is their God?’” Ezekiel 36:15 foretells the day Israel “will no longer bear the reproach of the nations.” Divine restoration is motivated by zeal for His own name.

Poetic and Wisdom Literature

The Psalms transform reproach into petition:
• “How long, O God, will the enemy mock You?” (Psalm 74:10)
• “Pay back… the reproach they hurled at You” (Psalm 79:12)
• “How Your enemies taunt… every step of Your anointed one” (Psalm 89:51)

These prayers wrestle with the tension between present shame and promised vindication.

Christological Foreshadowing

Psalm 69:9, “the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me,” finds its fulfillment in Jesus (Romans 15:3). At the cross the accumulated חָרַף aimed at God converges on the Son, transforming reproach into redemptive triumph.

Ministry Implications

• Expect and endure reproach; it is ultimately directed at God, who will vindicate (1 Peter 4:14).
• Guard speech; mocking the vulnerable reproaches their Maker.
• Intercede when God’s name is dishonored, following Hezekiah’s pattern.
• Use moments of cultural disdain to bear witness, as David did before Goliath, trusting the LORD to display His glory.

Summary

Wherever חָרַף appears, the issue is not merely wounded pride but the honor of the covenant God. He turns taunts into testimony, reproach into righteousness, and blasphemy into occasions for His power to be revealed.

בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם בחרפם וַיְחָרֵ֖ף ויחרף ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ חֵֽרְפוּ֙ חֵרְפ֑וּנִי חֵרְפ֖וּ חֵרְפ֣וּךָ חֵרְפ֣וּנִי חֵרְפ֥וּנִי חֵרֵ֔ף חֵרֵ֣ף חֵרֵ֣ף ׀ חֵרֵ֥ף חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ חֵרַ֛פְתִּי חֵרַ֣פְתָּ ׀ חֵרַֽפְתָּ׃ חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם חֹרְפִ֣י חורפיך חרף חרפו חרפוך חרפוני חרפי חרפת חרפת׃ חרפתי חרפתם יְחָ֣רֶף יְחָֽרְפֵ֗נִי יְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃ יֶחֱרַ֥ף יחרף יחרפוני׃ יחרפני לְחָרֵ֕ף לְחָרֵ֖ף לְחָרֵ֥ף לְחָרֵף֙ לחרף מְחָרֵ֣ף מחרף נֶחֱרֶ֣פֶת נחרפת תֶּחֱרָֽף׃ תחרף׃ bə·ḥā·rə·p̄ām bechareFam bəḥārəp̄ām cheRafta cherafTem cheRafti cheRef chereFu chereFucha chereFuni choreFi chorFeicha ḥê·rap̄·tā ḥê·rap̄·tem ḥê·rap̄·tî ḥê·rə·p̄ū ḥê·rə·p̄ū·ḵā ḥê·rə·p̄ū·nî ḥê·rêp̄ ḥêrap̄tā ḥêrap̄tem ḥêrap̄tî ḥêrêp̄ ḥêrəp̄ū ḥêrəp̄ūḵā ḥêrəp̄ūnî ḥō·rə·p̄î ḥō·wr·p̄e·ḵā ḥōrəp̄î ḥōwrp̄eḵā lə·ḥā·rêp̄ lechaRef ləḥārêp̄ mə·ḥā·rêp̄ mechaRef məḥārêp̄ ne·ḥĕ·re·p̄eṯ necheRefet neḥĕrep̄eṯ te·ḥĕ·rāp̄ techeRaf teḥĕrāp̄ vaychaRef way·ḥā·rêp̄ wayḥārêp̄ yə·ḥā·rə·p̄ê·nî yə·ḥā·rə·p̄ū·nî yə·ḥā·rep̄ ye·ḥĕ·rap̄ yeCharef yechareFeni yeChareFuni yecheRaf yəḥārep̄ yəḥārəp̄ênî yəḥārəp̄ūnî yeḥĕrap̄Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts