Lexical Definition

‎חָמֵץ‎ châmêts (khaw-mates') to leaven ^H:V
a primitive root

cruel (man), dyed, be grieved, leavened.

• to be pungent
• i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling)

1) to be leavened, be sour
1a) (Qal) to be leavened
1b) (Hiphil) to taste something leavened
1c) (Hithpael) to be embittered, grieved
2) to be cruel, oppress, be ruthless
3) to be red

See Greek: ἀδικέω · ἐκκαίω · ζυμόω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎חָמֵץ‎ verb be sour, leavened (Late Hebrew id., Pi`el Hiph`il make sour, leaven; Arabic be sour; Aramaic ‎חֲמַע‎ be sour, leavened, be leavened) —

Qal Perfect ‎חָמֵץ‎ Exod 12:39 Imperfect ‎יֶחְמָ֑ץ‎ Exod 12:34 Infinitive suffix ‎חֻמְצָתוֺ‎ Hos 7:4 +; — be leavened, of dough (‎בָּצֵק‎), Exod 12:34; Exod 12:39 (E), compare Hos 7:4. Hitph. be soured, embittered, Ps 73:21 (|| ‎כִּלְיוֺתַי אֶשְׁתּוֺנָן‎).

II. [‎חמץ‎] verb be red (? compare Aramaic Ethpa`al blush, be ashamed, possibly originally be red); —

Qal Passive participle construct ‎חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים‎ red of garments Isa 63:1 possibly also Imperfect 3 feminine singular ‎תֶּחֱמַץ‎ Ps 68:24* that thy foot may be red with blood (for ᵑ0 ‎תמחץ‎; so Krochm Hi Gr; most, however, read ‎תרחץ‎ see ‎רחץ‎).

III. [‎חמץ‎] verb be ruthless (dubious √; perhaps by-form of ‎חמס‎; perhaps erroneous for it; identification by most with I. ‎חמץ‎, be sour, hence sharp, violent, but connection improbable) — only Qal Participle active ‎מִכַּף מְעַוֵּל וְחוֺמֵץ‎ Ps 71:4 from the hand of the unjust and ruthless (|| ‎מִיַּד רָשָׁע‎).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References