Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🚫 Religious ban 🙏 Sacred dedication 💥 Divine destruction
herem

herem

9.9
A thing or place set apart to be destroyed for religious reasons
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛrɛm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : herem
  • The ancient city was placed under herem after it defied the invading army.

Examples

  • The religious leaders declared herem on the group for violating sacred laws.

  • According to tradition, anything under herem was to be completely destroyed.

  • The city was declared a herem for its wickedness.

  • In ancient times, a herem could mean total destruction.

  • In ancient Israel, the practice of herem involved dedicating certain cities and their inhabitants to destruction as a divine command.

  • The warriors were instructed to enact herem on their enemies, ensuring that no one was left alive to threaten their community.

  • The concept of herem emphasizes the importance of removing anything that could lead the people away from their faith.

Synonyms

anathema
vsherem
  • Formal
4 9.9

A formal religious curse that cuts someone off from the church

is set apart by divine command to be destroyed rather than merely cursed
execration
vsherem
  • Formal
9.9

A person or thing that many people strongly hate

is set apart by divine command to be destroyed rather than only disliked

Surface Forms

herem singular
herems plural

Etymology

Herem comes from the Hebrew cherem, which could mean 'devote' or 'destroy', and is related to Arabic haram 'forbidden'. So in ancient times a city or object under herem was set apart to be destroyed, which is why the word can mean something marked for destruction or exclusion.