2778. charaph.
Lexical Summary
charaph.: To reproach, taunt, defy, blaspheme

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

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
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

Brown-Driver-Briggs
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).

Topical Lexicon
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.

Forms and Transliterations
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 yeḥĕrap̄
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 19:20
HEB: וְהִ֤וא שִׁפְחָה֙ נֶחֱרֶ֣פֶת לְאִ֔ישׁ וְהָפְדֵּה֙
NAS: is a slave acquired for [another] man,
KJV: that [is] a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband,
INT: who slave acquired for man way

Judges 5:18
HEB: זְבֻל֗וּן עַ֣ם חֵרֵ֥ף נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לָמ֖וּת
NAS: [was] a people who despised their lives
KJV: [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives
INT: Zebulun a people despised their lives death

Judges 8:15
HEB: וְצַלְמֻנָּ֑ע אֲשֶׁר֩ חֵרַפְתֶּ֨ם אוֹתִ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר
NAS: concerning whom you taunted me, saying,
KJV: and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying,
INT: and Zalmunna whom taunted saying are the hands

1 Samuel 17:10
HEB: הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י אֲנִ֗י חֵרַ֛פְתִּי אֶת־ מַעַרְכ֥וֹת
NAS: said, I defy the ranks
KJV: said, I defy the armies
INT: the Philistine I defy the ranks of Israel

1 Samuel 17:25
HEB: הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֛י לְחָרֵ֥ף אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
NAS: he is coming up to defy Israel.
KJV: that is come up? surely to defy Israel
INT: this Surely to defy Israel is coming

1 Samuel 17:26
HEB: הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י חֵרֵ֔ף מַעַרְכ֖וֹת אֱלֹהִ֥ים
NAS: Philistine, that he should taunt the armies
KJV: Philistine, that he should defy the armies
INT: is this should taunt the armies angels

1 Samuel 17:36
HEB: מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י חֵרֵ֔ף מַעַרְכֹ֖ת אֱלֹהִ֥ים
NAS: of them, since he has taunted the armies
KJV: shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies
INT: of them since has taunted the armies God

1 Samuel 17:45
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵרַֽפְתָּ׃
NAS: of Israel, whom you have taunted.
KJV: of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
INT: of Israel whom have taunted

2 Samuel 21:21
HEB: וַיְחָרֵ֖ף אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
NAS: When he defied Israel, Jonathan
KJV: And when he defied Israel, Jonathan
INT: defied Israel struck

2 Samuel 23:9
HEB: עִם־ דָּוִ֗ד בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֶסְפוּ־
NAS: with David when they defied the Philistines
KJV: with David, when they defied the Philistines
INT: with David defied the Philistines were gathered

2 Kings 19:4
HEB: אַשּׁ֤וּר ׀ אֲדֹנָיו֙ לְחָרֵף֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַ֔י
NAS: has sent to reproach the living
KJV: hath sent to reproach the living
INT: of Assyria his master to reproach God the living

2 Kings 19:16
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלָח֔וֹ לְחָרֵ֖ף אֱלֹהִ֥ים חָֽי׃
NAS: he has sent to reproach the living
KJV: which hath sent him to reproach the living
INT: which has sent to reproach God the living

2 Kings 19:22
HEB: אֶת־ מִ֤י חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ וְגִדַּ֔פְתָּ וְעַל־
NAS: Whom have you reproached and blasphemed?
KJV: Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed?
INT: Whom reproached and blasphemed and

2 Kings 19:23
HEB: בְּיַ֣ד מַלְאָכֶיךָ֮ חֵרַ֣פְתָּ ׀ אֲדֹנָי֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר
NAS: your messengers you have reproached the Lord,
KJV: thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord,
INT: Through your messengers have reproached the Lord have said

1 Chronicles 20:7
HEB: וַיְחָרֵ֖ף אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
NAS: When he taunted Israel, Jonathan
KJV: But when he defied Israel, Jonathan
INT: taunted Israel killed

2 Chronicles 32:17
HEB: וּסְפָרִ֣ים כָּתַ֔ב לְחָרֵ֕ף לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י
NAS: letters to insult the LORD
KJV: also letters to rail on the LORD
INT: letters wrote to insult the LORD God

Nehemiah 6:13
HEB: רָ֔ע לְמַ֖עַן יְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃ פ
NAS: in order that they could reproach me.
KJV: report, that they might reproach me.
INT: an evil order reproach

Job 27:6
HEB: אַרְפֶּ֑הָ לֹֽא־ יֶחֱרַ֥ף לְ֝בָבִ֗י מִיָּמָֽי׃
NAS: My heart does not reproach any
KJV: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.
INT: let does not reproach my heart of my days

Psalm 42:10
HEB: בְּרֶ֤צַח ׀ בְּֽעַצְמוֹתַ֗י חֵרְפ֥וּנִי צוֹרְרָ֑י בְּאָמְרָ֥ם
NAS: my adversaries revile me, While they say
KJV: mine enemies reproach me; while they say
INT: A shattering of my bones revile my adversaries say

Psalm 44:16
HEB: מִ֭קּוֹל מְחָרֵ֣ף וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף מִפְּנֵ֥י
NAS: of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles,
KJV: For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth;
INT: of the voice reproaches and reviles of the presence

Psalm 55:12
HEB: לֹֽא־ אוֹיֵ֥ב יְחָֽרְפֵ֗נִי וְאֶ֫שָּׂ֥א לֹֽא־
NAS: For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear
KJV: For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne
INT: Nor an enemy reproaches bear Nor

Psalm 57:3
HEB: מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ וְֽיוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי חֵרֵ֣ף שֹׁאֲפִ֣י סֶ֑לָה
NAS: and save me; He reproaches him who tramples
KJV: and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up.
INT: heaven and save reproaches tramples Selah

Psalm 69:9
HEB: אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃
NAS: me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen
KJV: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen
INT: has consumed and the reproaches reproach have fallen and

Psalm 74:10
HEB: מָתַ֣י אֱ֭לֹהִים יְחָ֣רֶף צָ֑ר יְנָ֘אֵ֤ץ
NAS: will the adversary revile, [And] the enemy
KJV: how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy
INT: How God revile will the adversary spurn

Psalm 74:18
HEB: זֹ֗את א֭וֹיֵב חֵרֵ֣ף ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וְעַ֥ם
NAS: that the enemy has reviled, And a foolish
KJV: this, [that] the enemy hath reproached, O LORD,
INT: likewise this the enemy has reviled LORD people

41 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2778
41 Occurrences


bə·ḥā·rə·p̄ām — 1 Occ.
ḥê·rap̄·tā — 5 Occ.
ḥê·rap̄·tem — 1 Occ.
ḥê·rap̄·tî — 1 Occ.
ḥê·rêp̄ — 7 Occ.
ḥê·rə·p̄ū — 4 Occ.
ḥê·rə·p̄ū·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ḥê·rə·p̄ū·nî — 3 Occ.
ḥō·rə·p̄î — 2 Occ.
ḥō·wr·p̄e·ḵā — 1 Occ.
lə·ḥā·rêp̄ — 6 Occ.
mə·ḥā·rêp̄ — 1 Occ.
ne·ḥĕ·re·p̄eṯ — 1 Occ.
te·ḥĕ·rāp̄ — 1 Occ.
way·ḥā·rêp̄ — 2 Occ.
yə·ḥā·rep̄ — 1 Occ.
yə·ḥā·rə·p̄ê·nî — 1 Occ.
yə·ḥā·rə·p̄ū·nî — 1 Occ.
ye·ḥĕ·rap̄ — 1 Occ.

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