Heap

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Σωρεύω (Strong'S #4987 — Verb — soreuo — sore-yoo'-o )

"to heap one thing on another," is said "heaping" coals of fire on the head,  Romans 12:20 (for the meaning see COALS); in   2—Timothy 3:6 it is used metaphorically of women "laden" (or overwhelmed) with sins. See Laden. In the Sept.   Proverbs 25:22 .

2: Ἐπισωρεύω (Strong'S #2002 — Verb — episoreuo — ep-ee-so-ryoo'-o )

"to heap upon" or "together" (epi, "upon," and No. 1), is used metaphorically in  2—Timothy 4:3 of appropriating a number of teachers to suit the liking of those who do so. The reference may be to those who, like the Athenians, run about to hear and follow those who proclaim new ideas of their own invention.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Proverbs 25:22 (a) There was a custom in Israel of lending coals of fire to a neighbor with which to rekindle a fire which had been allowed to die out. The neighbor carried the clay vessel on the head. When the neighbor desired to show special kindness to the one who wanted the coals, she would give an extra amount of these hot coals and fill the vessel that was carried on the head of her neighbor. By this she revealed her desire to be more than an ordinary helper. The Lord asks us to do this for those who need our help even though they be very unfriendly toward us. This act of kindness will win their friendship. (See  Romans 12:20).

 Habakkuk 2:5 (a) Here we are taught that some one will gather followers around himself who agree with him and his leadership.

 2 Timothy 4:3 (a) We learn by this figure that a false leader will invite folk to follow him, and those who are in false doctrines will invite false leaders to minister to them.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) To collect in great quantity; to amass; to lay up; to accumulate; - usually with up; as, to heap up treasures.

(2): ( n.) A great number or large quantity of things not placed in a pile.

(3): ( n.) A crowd; a throng; a multitude or great number of persons.

(4): ( v. t.) To form or round into a heap, as in measuring; to fill (a measure) more than even full.

(5): ( v. t.) To throw or lay in a heap; to make a heap of; to pile; as, to heap stones; - often with up; as, to heap up earth; or with on; as, to heap on wood or coal.

(6): ( n.) A pile or mass; a collection of things laid in a body, or thrown together so as to form an elevation; as, a heap of earth or stones.

King James Dictionary

HEAP, n.

1. A pile or mass a collection of things laid in a body so as to form an elevation as a heap of earth or stones.

Huge heaps of slain around the body rise.

2. A crowd a throng a cluster applied to living persons. Inelegant and not in use. 3. A mass of ruins.

Thou hast made of a city a heap.  Isaiah 25

HEAP,

1. To throw or lay in a heap to pile as, to heap stones often with up as, to heap up earth or with on as, to heap on wood or coal. 2. To amass to accumulate to lay up to collect in great quantity with up as, to heap up treasures.

Though the wicked heap up silver as the dust-- Job 27

3. To add something else, in large quantities. 4. To pile to add till the mass takes a roundish form, or till it rises above the measure as, to heap any thing in measuring.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 8

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hēp ( ערמה , ‛ărēmāh , גּל , gal , נד , nēdh , תּל , tēl ): "Heap" appears (1) in the simple sense of a gathering or pile, as the translation of ‛ărēmāh , a "heap," in Rth 3:7 of grain;   Nehemiah 4:2 of stones; in   2 Chronicles 31:6 , etc., of the tithes, etc.; of ḥōmer (boiling up), a "heap"; in  Exodus 8:14 of frogs; of gal , a "heap"; in  Job 8:17 of stones. (2) As indicating "ruin," "waste," gal ( 2 Kings 19:25;  Job 15:28;  Isaiah 25:2;  Isaiah 37:26;  Jeremiah 9:11;  Jeremiah 51:37 ); me‛ı̄ ( Isaiah 17:1 ); ‛ı̄ ( Psalm 79:1;  Jeremiah 26:18;  Micah 1:6;  Micah 3:12 ); tēl , "mound," "hillock," "heap" ( Deuteronomy 13:16;  Joshua 8:28;  Jeremiah 30:18 the King James Version;   Jeremiah 49:2 ). (3) Of waters, nēdh , "heap," "pile" ( Exodus 15:8;  Joshua 3:13 ,  Joshua 3:16;  Psalm 33:7;  Psalm 78:13 ); ḥōmer ( Habakkuk 3:15 , "the heap of mighty waters," the Revised Version margin "surge"). (4) A cairn, or heap of stones ( a ) over the dead body of a dishonored person, gal ( Joshua 7:26;  Joshua 8:29;  2 Samuel 18:17 ); ( b ) as a witness or boundary-heap ( Genesis 31:46 f, Gal̇‛ēdh (Galeed) in Hebrew, also micpāh , "watch tower," Yeghar - Sāhădhūthā' (Jegar-sahadutha) in Aramaic, both words meaning "the heap of witness"; see  Genesis 31:47 ,  Genesis 31:49 the Revised Version (British and American)). (5) As a way mark, tamrūrı̄m , from tāmar , "to stand erect" ( Jeremiah 31:21 the King James Version, "Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps," the Revised Version (British and American) "guide-posts," a more likely translation).

"To heap" represents various single words: ḥāthāh , "to take," "to take hold of," with one exception, applied to fire or burning coals (  Proverbs 25:22 , "Thou writ heap coals of fire upon his head," "Thou wilt take coals of fire (and heap them) on his head"); ṣāphāh , "to add" ( Deuteronomy 32:23 ); cābhar , "to heap up" ( Habakkuk 1:10 ); kābhac , "to press together" (with the fingers or hand) ( Habakkuk 2:5 ); rābhāh , "to multiply" ( Ezekiel 24:10 ); episōreúō , "to heap up upon" ( 2 Timothy 4:3 , they "will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts"); sōreúō , "to heap up" ( Romans 12:20 , "Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head"); thēsaurı́zō , "to lay up" (as treasure) ( James 5:3 the King James Version, "Ye have heaped treasure together," the Revised Version (British and American) "laid up"); cābhar , "to heap up," "to heap" or "store up" ( Job 27:16 , "silver";  Psalm 39:6 , "riches";  Zechariah 9:3 , "silver,"); sūm , sı̄m "to place," "set," "put" ( Job 36:13 the King James Version, "The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath," the Revised Version (British and American) "They that are godless in heart lay up anger"). In   Judges 15:16 we have ḥămōr , ḥămōrothāyim , "with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps," the Revised Version margin "heap, two heaps"; one of Samson's sayings; ḥămōr means "an ass," ḥōmer "a heap."

For "heap up words" ( Job 16:4 ), the Revised Version (British and American) has "join together"; for "shall be a heap" ( Isaiah 17:11 ), "fleeth away," margin "shall be a heap"; "heap" for "number" ( Nahum 3:3 ); the English Revised Version "heap of stones" for "sling," margin as the King James Version and the American Standard Revised Version ( Proverbs 26:8 ); "in one heap" for "upon a heap" ( Joshua 3:16 ); "he heapeth up (dust)" for "they shall heap" ( Habakkuk 1:10 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

The Hebrew word גָּרַישׁ , Gadish', rendered " ‘ tomb" in  Job 21:32, and "heap" in the margin, properly signifies A Stack, A Heap, hence A Tomb, Tuzmulus, a sepulchral mound that was made by a pile of earth or stones. The ancient Tumuli were heaps of earth or stone, and probably such a pile was usually made over a grave as a monument. Travelers in the East have often seen heaps of stones covering over or marking the place of graves. The Hebrew phrase גִּל אֲבָנַים גָּרֹל gal abanim' gadol', rendered "a great heap of stones," refers to the heaps or tumuli which were raised over those whose death was either infamous or attended with some very remarkable circumstances. Such was the monument raised over the grave of Achan ( Joshua 7:26); and over that of the king of Ai ( Joshua 8:29). The burying of Absalom was distinguished by a similar erection, as a monument of his disgrace to future ages ( 2 Samuel 18:17). The same word גִּל , gal, is commonly used in reference to the heaps or ruins of walls and cities ( Job 8:17;  Isaiah 25:2;  Jeremiah 9:10). Modern travelers abundantly testify to the accurate fulfillment of Scripture prophecy in relation to the sites of numerous ancient cities, particularly of such as were doomed to become desolate Heaps (Bastow). (See Pillar); (See Stone). Other Heb. terms translated Heap are: חֹמֶר , cho'mer, a Pile ( Exodus 8:14, elsewhere a Homer as a measure); מְעַי , mei', a Heap of rubbish ( Isaiah 17:1); נֵד‘ , ned, a Mound ( Isaiah 17:11; poet. of waves,  Exodus 15:8;  Joshua 3:13;  Joshua 3:16;  Psalms 33:7;  Psalms 78:13); עֲרֵמָה , Aremah', A Pile (e.g. of rubbish, Nehemiah 3:34; of grain,  Song of Solomon 7:3; of sheaves,  Ruth 3:7;  Nehemiah 13:15;  Haggai 2:16, etc.); תֵּל , Tel, a Hill ( Joshua 11:13; espec. a mound of rubbish,  Deuteronomy 12:17;  Joshua 8:28;  Jeremiah 49:2, etc.); with others of a more miscellaneous signification. (See Mound).