Lexical Definition
חָמַד châmad (khaw-mad') to desire H:V
a primitive root
beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ([idiom] great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).
- to delight in
v
1) to desire, covet, take pleasure in, delight in
1a) (Qal) to desire
1b) (Niphal) to be desirable
1c) (Piel) to delight greatly, desire greatly
n f
2) desirableness, preciousness
See Greek: βούλημα · ἐνθυμέομαι · ἐπιθυμέω · ἐπιθυμητής · ἐπιθυμία · εὐδοκέω · νικάω · ὡραῖος
Brown-Driver-Briggs
חָמַד verb desire, take pleasure in (Aramaic חֲמַד (not in Syriac); Arabic praise, eulogize, appove of; Sabean חמדם in gratitude [praise] there-for DHMZMG 1875, 595; 1876, 686) —
Qal Perfect ׳ח Ps 68:17*; Prov 12:12 חָֽמְדוּ Prov 1:22 וְחָֽמְדוּ consecutive Mic 2:2 חֲמַדְתֶּם Isa 1:29 Imperfect יַחְמֹד Exod 34:24 2 masculine singular תַּחְמֹד Exod 20:16 (twice in verse) + 3 t. (including Prov 6:25 jussive); suffix וָאֶחְמְדֵם Josh 7:21 וְנֶחְמְדֵ֫הוּ Isa 53:2 Passive participle חֲמוּדוֺ Ps 39:12*; Job 20:20, חֲמוּדֵיהֶם Isa 44:9 — desire:
a. in bad sense of inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire, followed by accusative Exod 20:17 (twice in verse) (E) = Deut 5:18 (Deut 5:18 b has תִּתְאַוֶּה), Exod 34:24 (JE) Deut 7:25; Josh 7:21 (JE) Mic 2:2; Prov 12:12 of lustful desire Prov 6:25.
b. = take pleasure in, of idolatrous tendency Isa 1:29, so participle plural חֲמוּדֵיהֵם Isa 44:9 their delightful things (things in which they delight, see also vIsa 44:11 and BevJPhoenician xvii. 1888. p. 126); לֵצִים לָצוֺן חָֽמְדוּ Prov 1:22 how long do scorners delight in scoring.
c. less often in good sense, said of God לְשִׁבְתּוֺ ׳הָהָר חָמַד א, poetic Ps 68:17* object the suffering servant of ׳י, Isa 53:2 no beauty in him, that we should desire him (choose him, be drawn toward him); passive participle collective חֲמוּדוֺ Ps 39:12* his desired things, i. e. chosen, choice, desirable (see Niph`al); so probably Job 20:20. Niph`al Participle נֶחְמָד Gen 2:9 + 2 t.; הַנֶּחֱמָדִים Ps 19:11* — desirable: ׳עץ נ לְמַרְאֶה Gen 2:9, לְהַשְׂכִּיל ׳נ Gen 3:6, מִזָּהָב ׳הַנֶּח Ps 19:11* which are more desirable than gold; אוֺצָר נֶחְמָד Prov 21:20 desirable, i.e. costly treasure. Pi`el Perfect 1 singular delight greatly וְיָשַׁ֫בְתִּי ׳בְּצִלּוֺ ח Song 2:3 in his shadow I greatly delighted and sate, i.e. sate with great delight.
[חֲמוּדָה] noun feminine desirableness, preciousness — Plural absolute חֲמוּדוֺת Dan 9:23 חֲמוּדֹת Ezra 8:37 חֲמֻדוֺת 2Chr 20:25 + 4 t.; חֲמֻדֹת Gen 27:15 construct חֲמֻדוֺת Dan 11:43 — desirable, choice things i.e. garments Gen 27:15 (|| בגדים); compare Dan 11:38 (|| אבן יקרה), Dan 11:43 (חֲמֻדוֺת מִצְרַיִם); = precious things Ezra 8:27 (as gold); ׳כלי ח 2Chr 20:25 ׳לֶחֶם ח Deut 10:3 of man only ׳אִישׁחֿ Dan 10:11; Dan 10:19, and, without אישׁ, אָ֫תָּה ׳ח Dan 9:23 thou art a precious treasure (on construction see Dr§ 189, 2; see Bev and compare negative חמד Isa 53:2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 2:9 · 3:6 · 27:15 |
| Exodus | 20:16 · 20:17 · 34:24 |
| Deuteronomy | 5:18 · 7:25 · 10:3 |
| Joshua | 7:21 |
| 2 Chronicles | 20:25 |
| Ezra | 8:27 · 8:37 |
| Job | 20:20 |
| Psalms | 19:11* · 39:12* · 68:17* |
| Proverbs | 1:22 · 6:25 · 12:12 · 21:20 |
| Song of Solomon | 2:3 |
| Isaiah | 1:29 · 44:9 · 44:11 · 53:2 |
| Daniel | 9:23 · 10:11 · 10:19 · 11:38 · 11:43 |
| Micah | 2:2 |