Original Word: הָרַג
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harag
Pronunciation: hah-rag
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-rag')
Definition: To kill, slay, destroy
Meaning: to smite with deadly intent

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G615 (ἀποκτείνω, apokteinō) - to kill, slay

- G5407 (φονεύω, phoneuō) - to murder, kill

Usage: The Hebrew verb "harag" primarily means to kill or slay. It is used in the context of taking life, whether in warfare, murder, or execution. The term can imply both intentional and unintentional acts of killing. It is often used in the Old Testament to describe acts of violence, judgment, or divine retribution.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, the act of killing was understood within a framework of divine law and justice. The Torah provided specific guidelines for when taking a life was permissible, such as in cases of capital punishment or warfare. However, murder, or unlawful killing, was strictly prohibited and punishable by death. The concept of bloodguilt and the role of the avenger of blood (go'el) were significant in maintaining justice and order within the community.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to kill, slay
NASB Translation
destroyed (1), kill (44), kill me as you killed (1), kill me at once (1), killed (58), killing (3), kills (2), murdered (2), murderer (1), murderers (1), occurs (1), slain (16), slaughter (1), slay (14), slayer (2), slays (2), slew (11), smitten (1), surely kill (1).

הָרַג verb kill, slay (Late Hebrew id., ואהרג MI (1 singular Imperfect consecutive); Arabic fall into war, conflict, disorder, slaughter; Sabean הרג fight Os^{4, l. 17}, kill SabDenkm^{24. 25}) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ה Judges 9:24 4t., הָרָ֑ג 2 Samuel 14:7 2t., וְהָרַג consecutive Isaiah 27:1; suffix וַהֲרָגָ֑נִי consecutive 1 Samuel 16:2 2t.; הֲרָגוֺ Genesis 4:25; etc.; Imperfect יַהֲרֹג Psalm 10:8 4t.; יַהֲרָגֿ Job 5:2; וַיַּהֲרֹג Exodus 13:15 14t.; suffix יַהַרְגֵנִי Genesis 4:14; 1singular אֶהֱרוֺג Amos 2:3, אֶהֱרֹג Amos 9:1; cohortative וְאַהַרְגָה Genesis 27:41; suffix וָאֶהֶרְגֵהוּ 2 Samuel 4:10; 2 Kings 10:9; 3masculine plural יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ Psalm 94:6; Ezekiel 23:47; וַיַּהַרְגוּ Genesis 34:25 4t.; suffix יַהַרְגֻנִי Genesis 26:7, etc.; Imperative הֲרֹג Judges 8:20; suffix הָרְגֵנִי Numbers 11:15; plural הִרְגוּ Numbers 25:5 2t.; הֲרֹ֑גוּ Numbers 31:17; Infinitive absolute הָרֹג Numbers 11:15 2t.; הָרוֺג Esther 9:16; construct הֲרֹג Exodus 2:15 11t.; הֲרוֺג Ecclesiastes 3:8; Esther 7:4; suffix הָרְגֵנִי Exodus 2:14; הָרְגֵנוּ Exodus 5:21; הֲרָגְךָ 1 Samuel 24:11; הָרְגֶ֑ךָ Genesis 27:42 2t.; הָרְגוֺ Exodus 21:14; Participle active הֹרֵג Genesis 4:15 4t.; הוֺרֵג Ezekiel 21:16; הֹרְגֶ֑ךָ Ezekiel 28:9; הֹרְגִים Jeremiah 4:31; 2 Kings 17:25; passive הֲרוּגִים Isaiah 10:4 2t.; הֲרֻגִים Isaiah 14:19; construct הֲרֻגֵי Jeremiah 18:21; הֲרוּגָיו Isaiah 27:7; הֲרוּגֶיהָ Isaiah 26:21; הֲרֻגֶיהָ Proverbs 7:26; —

1. a. kill, slay, implying ruthless violence, especially private violence Genesis 4:8,14,15,23,25; Genesis 12:12 (all J), Genesis 20:11 (E) Genesis 26:7; Genesis 27:41,42; Genesis 34:25,26; Genesis 37:20,26 (all J), Genesis 49:6 (poem in J), Exodus 2:14 (twice in verse); Exodus 2:15 (E), Exodus 5:21 (J) Exodus 21:14; Exodus 23:7 (both J E), Numbers 31:19 (P) Judges 9:5,18,24 (twice in verse); Judges 9:56; Judges 16:2; Judges 20:5; 1 Samuel 16:2; 1 Samuel 22:21; 1 Samuel 24:11; 1 Samuel 24:12; 1 Samuel 24:18; 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 4:10,11,12; 2 Samuel 12:9; 2 Samuel 14:7; 2 Samuel 23:21; 1 Kings 2:5,32; 1 Kings 18:12,13,14; 1 Kings 19:1,10,14; 2 Kings 9:31; 2 Kings 10:9; 1 Chronicles 7:21; 1 Chronicles 11:23; 2Chronicles 21:4,13; 22:8; 24:23,25; 25:3; Nehemiah 4:5; Nehemiah 6:10 (twice in verse); Zechariah 11:5; Psalm 10:8; Psalm 94:6 ("" רִצֵּחַ); compare Judges 8:18,19,20,21; Judges 9:54; 1 Kings 12:27; Isaiah 14:20; 2Chronicles 22:1; Nehemiah 9:26; so of massacre of Jews planned by Haman Esther 3:13; Esther 7:4 (both לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד), and of slaughter of Jews' enemies in defence and revenge Esther 8:11 (same combination) Esther 9:6,10,12,15,16 compare Esther 9:11 (passive participle the slain).

b. hence of wholesale slaughter after battle Numbers 31:7,8 (twice in verse); Numbers 31:17 (twice in verse) (all P), Joshua 8:24; Joshua 10:11 (both J E), Joshua 13:22 (P), Judges 7:25 (twice in verse); Judges 8:17; Judges 9:45; 2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Kings 9:16; 1 Kings 11:24; 2 Kings 8:12; 1 Chronicles 19:18; 2Chronicles 28:6,7,9; 36:17; Ezekiel 26:8,11, compare Judges 9:26; passive participle the slain Isaiah 10:4; Isaiah 14:19 compare Ezekiel 23:10,47; Ezekiel 37:9; Jeremiah 18:21 הֲרֻגֵי מָוֶת ("" מֻכֵּיחֶֿרֶב); further Hosea 9:13; Habakkuk 1:17; Jeremiah 4:31; Ezekiel 21:16; Ezekiel 28:9; also of slaughter in a revolt 2 Kings 11:8 2Chronicles 23:17.

2 of God's slaying in judgment (stern and inscrutable), Genesis 20:4 (E), Exodus 4:23; Exodus 13:15; Exodus 22:23 (all J E), Amos 2:3; Amos 4:10; Amos 9:1,4; Lamentations 2:4,21; Lamentations 3:43; Psalm 59:12; Psalm 78:31; Psalm 78:34; Psalm 135:10; Psalm 136:18 compare Numbers 11:15 (twice in verse) (JE), Numbers 22:33 (J), Isaiah 14:30, 26:21 (passive the slain, so Isaiah 27:7), Jeremiah 15:3; figurative הֲרַגְתִּים בְּאִמְרֵיפִֿ֑י Hosea 6:5 ("" בַּנְּבִיאִים חָצַבְתִּי).

3 rarely of judicial killing by men (at God's command), Exodus 32:27 (JE), Leviticus 20:15,16 (H), Numbers 25:5 (JE), Deuteronomy 13:10 (twice in verse) compare Ezekiel 9:6 תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית.

4 of killing beasts, Numbers 22:29 (J; Balaam's ass), Leviticus 20:15 compare above, Isaiah 22:13 (oxen; "" שָׁחֹט), הִתַּנִּין אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּ֑ם Isaiah 27:1; also of killing vines, by hail Psalm 78:47.

5 of killing by beasts: lions 2 Kings 17:25, viper Job 20:16.

6 quite General is עֵת לַהֲרוֺג וְעֵת לִרְמּוֺא Ecclesiastes 3:3.

7 destroy, ruin לֶאֱוִיל יַהֲרָגכָּֿ֑עַשׂ וּפֹתֶה תָּמִית קִנְאָה Job 5:2; מְשׁוּבַת מְּתָיִם תַּהַרְגֵם וְשַׁלְוַת כְּ סִילִים תְּאַבְּדֵם Proverbs 1:32; also of those ruined by shameless woman Proverbs 7:26. — Regular construction is with accusative; object sometimes omitted, as Lamentations 2:21; used absolute Hosea 9:13; Jeremiah 4:31; Jeremiah 15:3; Lamentations 3:43; Ezekiel 21:16; Ecclesiastes 3:3; followed by בְּ slay among, i.e. some of, 2 Kings 17:25; 2Chronicles 28:6,9; Psalm 78:31; followed by מִן (part of), + accusative, 1 Chronicles 19:18; followed by direct object with לְ 2 Samuel 3:30; Job 5:2; Psalm 135:11 = Psalm 136:19; Psalm 136:20 (but in last 3 first object is accusative).

Niph`al Imperfect 1 passive of Qal 1 a, יֵהָרֵג Lamentations 2:20 shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary? 2 passive of Qal 1 b, 3 feminine plural תֵּהָרַגְנָה Ezekiel 26:6; also Ezekiel 26:15 בֵּהָרֵג הֶרֶג ( = בְּהֵהָרֵג), but ᵐ5 Co בַּהֲרֹג חֶרֶב.

Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular הֹרָ֑ג Isaiah 27:7 be slain (passive of Qal 1 b); compare 1 plural הֹרַגְנוּ Psalm 44:23 ("" נֶחְשַׁבְּנוּ כְּצאֹן טִבְחָה).

destroy, out of hand, kill, murderer, put to death, make slaughter, slayer, surely

A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent -- destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), X surely.

אֶהֱר֥וֹג אֶהֱרֹ֑ג אהרג אהרוג בֵּהָ֤רֵֽג בַּהֲרֹ֣ג בַּהֲרֹ֥ג בַּהֲרוּגִ֥ים בהרג בהרוגים הֲרַגְתִּ֖ים הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ הֲרַגְתִּֽיךְ׃ הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃ הֲרָג֖וֹ הֲרָגָ֑תְהוּ הֲרָגָ֥ם הֲרָגֽוּם׃ הֲרֹ֣ג הֲרֹֽגוּ׃ הֲרֻ֣גֵי הֲרֻגִ֖ים הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃ הֲרֻגָ֖יו הֲרוּגִ֖ים הֲרוּגֶֽיהָ׃ הִרְג֥וּ הִרְגוּ֙ הַֽהֲרוּגִ֛ים הַלְהָרְגֵ֙נִי֙ הָ֣רְגוּ הָרְג֖וּ הָרְג֛וּ הָרְג֣וּ הָרְג֤וּ הָרְג֧וּ הָרְגֵ֤נִי הָרְגוּ֩ הָרַ֔גְתָּ הָרַ֖גְתִּי הָרַ֖גְתָּ הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙ הָרַ֙גְתָּ֙ הָרַ֛ג הָרַ֣ג הָרַ֤גְתִּי הָרָ֑ג הָרָ֑גְתָּ הָרָ֑גוּ הָרָ֔ג הָרָ֔גוּ הָרָֽגְתָּ׃ הָרֹ֔ג הָרֹ֤ג ׀ הָרֹג֙ הֹֽרְגֶ֑ךָ הֹרְגִ֖ים הֹרֵ֔ג הֹרֵ֖ג הֹרֵ֣ג הֹרֵ֥ג הֹרֵ֨ג הֹרַ֣גְנוּ הֹרָֽג׃ ההרוגים הוֹרֵֽג׃ הורג׃ הלהרגני הרג הרג׃ הרגו הרגו׃ הרגום׃ הרגי הרגיה׃ הרגיו הרגים הרגך הרגם הרגנו הרגני הרגת הרגת׃ הרגתהו הרגתי הרגתיך הרגתיך׃ הרגתים הרגתם הרגתני׃ הרוגיה׃ הרוגים וְ֝הָרַ֗ג וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה וְהִרְג֧וּ וְהָרְג֥וּ וְהָרַ֥ג וְהָרַגְתִּ֥י וְהָרַגְתָּ֥ וְהָרֹג֙ וְלַהֲרֹ֨ג וְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּ וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֔ג וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג וַֽיַּהֲרֹג֙ וַהֲרְגְנֻֽהוּ׃ וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי וַהֲרָג֗וּם וַהֲרָגָ֑נִי וַהֲרָגָ֑תַם וַהֲרָגָֽנִי׃ וַהֲרָגֻ֕נִי וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ וַיַּֽהַרְג֣וּ וַיַּֽהַרְגֻ֥הוּ וַיַּהֲרֹ֥ג וַיַּהֲרֹ֨ג וַיַּהֲרֹג֩ וַיַּהַרְג֗וּם וַיַּהַרְג֨וּ וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ וַיַּהַרְגֵ֣ם וַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃ וַיַּהַרְגֵֽם׃ וַתַּֽהַרְגוּ־ וַתַּהַרְג֧וּ וָאֶהְרְגֵ֔הוּ וָאֶהְרְגֵ֖הוּ ואהרגה ואהרגהו והרג והרגו והרגום והרגוני והרגנהו והרגנום והרגני והרגני׃ והרגת והרגתי והרגתם ויהרג ויהרגהו ויהרגהו׃ ויהרגו ויהרגום ויהרגם ויהרגם׃ ולהרג ונהרגהו ותהרגו ותהרגו־ יֵהָרֵ֛ג יַֽהֲרְגֻן֙ יַֽהַרְגֵֽנִי׃ יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי יַהֲרָג־ יַהֲרֹ֑ג יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ יַהֲרֹ֔ג יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ יַהֲרֹ֣ג יַהֲרֹֽג׃ יהרג יהרג־ יהרג׃ יהרגו יהרגן יהרגני יהרגני׃ לְהָרְג֣וֹ לְהָרְגֵֽנוּ׃ לְהָרְגֶ֔ךָ לְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃ לְהֹרְגִֽים׃ לַֽהֲרֹ֔ג לַהֲר֣וֹג לַהֲרָגֲךָ֖ לַהֲרֹ֔ג לַהֲרֹ֖ג לַהֲרֹ֣ג לַהֲרֹ֤ג לַהֲרֹ֥ג לַהֲרֹג֩ לַהֲרוֹג֙ להרג להרגו להרגים׃ להרגך להרגך׃ להרגנו׃ להרוג נַהֲרֹג֙ נהרג תֵּהָרַ֑גְנָה תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם תַּֽהַרְגֶ֔נּוּ תַּהֲרֹ֔ג תַּהֲרֹֽג׃ תַּהֲרֹֽגוּ׃ תַּהַרְג֣וּ תַּהַרְגֵ֤ם ׀ תהרג תהרג׃ תהרגהו תהרגו תהרגו׃ תהרגם תהרגנה תהרגנו ’e·hĕ·rō·wḡ ’e·hĕ·rōḡ ’ehĕrōḡ ’ehĕrōwḡ ba·hă·rōḡ ba·hă·rū·ḡîm bahaRog bahărōḡ baharuGim bahărūḡîm bê·hā·rêḡ beHareg bêhārêḡ eheRog ha·hă·rū·ḡîm hă·rā·ḡā·ṯə·hū hă·rā·ḡām hā·rā·ḡə·tā hă·rā·ḡōw hā·rā·ḡū hă·rā·ḡūm hā·raḡ hā·rāḡ hā·raḡ·tā hă·raḡ·tā·nî hă·raḡ·tem hā·raḡ·tî hă·raḡ·tî·ḵā hă·raḡ·tîḵ hă·raḡ·tîm hā·rə·ḡê·nî hā·rə·ḡū hă·rō·ḡū hă·rōḡ hā·rōḡ hă·ru·ḡāw hă·ru·ḡê hă·ru·ḡe·hā hă·rū·ḡe·hā hă·ru·ḡîm hă·rū·ḡîm haharuGim hahărūḡîm hal·hā·rə·ḡê·nî halhareGeni halhārəḡênî haRag hāraḡ hārāḡ haraGam hărāḡām haraGatehu hărāḡāṯəhū haRageta hārāḡətā haraGo hărāḡōw haRagta hāraḡtā haragTani hăraḡtānî haragTem hăraḡtem haRagti hāraḡtî haragTich haragTicha hăraḡtîḵ hăraḡtîḵā haragTim hăraḡtîm haRagu hārāḡū haraGum hărāḡūm hareGeni hārəḡênî hareGu hārəḡū haRog hărōḡ hārōḡ haRogu hărōḡū haruGav hăruḡāw hăruḡê hăruḡehā hărūḡehā haRugei haruGeiha haruGim hăruḡîm hărūḡîm hir·ḡū hirGu hirḡū hō·rāḡ hō·raḡ·nū hō·rə·ḡe·ḵā hō·rə·ḡîm hō·rêḡ hō·w·rêḡ hoRag hōrāḡ hoRagnu hōraḡnū hoReg hōrêḡ horeGecha hōrəḡeḵā horeGim hōrəḡîm hōwrêḡ la·hă·rā·ḡă·ḵā la·hă·rō·wḡ la·hă·rōḡ laharagaCha lahărāḡăḵā lahaRog lahărōḡ lahărōwḡ lə·hā·rə·ḡe·ḵā lə·hā·rə·ḡê·nū lə·hā·rə·ḡōw lə·hō·rə·ḡîm lehareGecha ləhārəḡeḵā lehareGenu ləhārəḡênū lehareGo ləhārəḡōw lehoreGim ləhōrəḡîm na·hă·rōḡ nahaRog nahărōḡ ta·hă·rō·ḡū ta·hă·rōḡ ta·har·ḡê·hū ta·har·ḡêm ta·har·ḡen·nū ta·har·ḡū taharGehu taharḡêhū taharGem taharḡêm taharGennu taharḡennū taharGu taharḡū tahaRog tahărōḡ tahaRogu tahărōḡū tê·hā·raḡ·nāh tehaRagnah têhāraḡnāh vaehreGehu vaharaGani vaharaGatam vaharagNum vaharaGum vaharaGuni vahargeNuhu vaiyaharGehu vaiYaharGem vaiyaharGu vaiyaharGuhu vaiyaharGum vaiyahaRog vattaharGu veaharGah vehaRag veharagTa veharagTi vehareGu vehaRog vehirGu velahaRog venaharGehu wā’ehrəḡêhū wā·’eh·rə·ḡê·hū wa·hă·rā·ḡā·nî wa·hă·rā·ḡā·ṯam wa·hă·rā·ḡu·nî wa·hă·rā·ḡū·nî wa·hă·rā·ḡūm wa·hă·raḡ·nūm wa·hăr·ḡə·nu·hū wahărāḡānî wahărāḡāṯam wahăraḡnūm wahărāḡūm wahărāḡunî wahărāḡūnî wahărḡənuhū wat·ta·har·ḡū wat·ta·har·ḡū- wattaharḡū wattaharḡū- way·ya·hă·rōḡ way·ya·har·ḡê·hū way·ya·har·ḡêm way·ya·har·ḡū way·ya·har·ḡu·hū way·ya·har·ḡūm wayyaharḡêhū wayyaharḡêm wayyaharḡū wayyaharḡuhū wayyaharḡūm wayyahărōḡ wə’aharḡāh wə·’a·har·ḡāh wə·hā·raḡ wə·hā·raḡ·tā wə·hā·raḡ·tî wə·hā·rə·ḡū wə·hā·rōḡ wə·hir·ḡū wə·la·hă·rōḡ wə·na·har·ḡê·hū wəhāraḡ wəhāraḡtā wəhāraḡtî wəhārəḡū wəhārōḡ wəhirḡū wəlahărōḡ wənaharḡêhū ya·hă·rāḡ- ya·hă·rō·ḡū ya·hă·rōḡ ya·har·ḡê·nî ya·har·ḡu·nî ya·hăr·ḡun yahărāḡ- YaharGeni yaharḡênî yaharGun yahărḡun yaharGuni yaharḡunî yaharog yahărōḡ yahaRogu yahărōḡū yê·hā·rêḡ yehaReg yêhārêḡInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts