Bible Dictionary
CHAFE
To chafe means to be bitter, fierce, or ferocious. Hushai used the term to describe David’s supposed anger during Absalom’s rebellion.
Definition
To chafe means to be bitter, fierce, deadly, destructive, or ferocious. The word can describe the fierce mood of someone preparing for violent action.
Biblical Usage
Hushai used the term in 2 Samuel 17:8 to characterize David’s supposed mood during Absalom’s armed rebellion, comparing him to a bear robbed of her whelps.
Historical Background
The word derives from a term meaning bitter, and by extension bitter of soul, deadly, destructive, or ferocious.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>chaf (mar, "bitter"; hence, bitter of soul, deadly, destructive, ferocious, "as a bear robbed of her whelps"): Occurs only in 2Sa 17:8; used by Hushai to characterize David's supposedly fierce mood at the time of Absalom's armed rebellion.</p>