[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/harm/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [H](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/h/) / harm # harm noun (harm — uncountable); verb (harm, harms, harmed, harming) «harm» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Hurt, damage or injury to a person, animal or thing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#m1) 2. Verb: to hurt or damage someone or something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#m2) 3. No harm in: it is not wrong or dangerous: «There's no harm in asking». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#m3) ### In the lessons In safety and kindness lessons: do no harm — don't hurt people, animals or the environment; some substances (bleach, medicine) can harm you; too much sun harms skin; pollution harms wildlife. In stories: a villain wants to harm someone; a hero keeps them from harm. Phrases: do harm, cause harm, come to no harm, out of harm's way, no harm done, there's no harm in, harmful, harmless. ### Examples - Smoking harms your lungs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x1) - The dog won't harm you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x2) - Litter can harm wild animals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x3) - Keep cleaning products out of harm's way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x4) - There's no harm in asking for help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x5) - No harm done — it was just a spilled drink. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x6) - The lost kitten came to no harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x7) - Too much sugar can harm your teeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x8) - They had done me no harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/#x9) ### Note Uncountable noun: «a lot of harm», never «a harm». Adjectives: harmful (causes harm), harmless (causes no harm). Regular verb: harmed. «Harmless» does not mean you should touch it — many harmless-looking things (berries, animals) can still hurt you. ## In Jewish tradition In the Torah, "harm" often means a serious injury or a disaster that befalls someone. In Exodus it means injury to a woman or child, which is repaid with "life for life." In the later books it also means to hurt someone: God tells that His anointed ones and prophets must not be harmed, and Proverbs warns against quarrelling with one who has done no harm. **Interpretation.** "Life for life" is read by the rabbis as a demand for fair money payment for damage, not literal revenge. Jacob's fear for Benjamin's safety shows the sorrow of a father. Proverbs is read as teaching peace and fairness toward neighbours. ### Examples - But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, (Torah EXO.21.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x1) - But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said: 'Lest peradventure harm befall him.' (Torah GEN.42.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x2) - and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. (Torah GEN.44.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x3) - 'Touch not Mine anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.' (Writings 1CH.16.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x4) - Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. (Writings PRO.3.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x5) - Neither doth one thrust another, they march every one in his highway; and they break through the weapons, and suffer no harm. (Prophets JOL.2.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/#x6) ### Note Uncountable noun: «a lot of harm», never «a harm». Adjectives: harmful (causes harm), harmless (causes no harm). Regular verb: harmed. «Harmless» does not mean you should touch it — many harmless-looking things (berries, animals) can still hurt you. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «harm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/harm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«harm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/harm.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «harm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/harm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«harm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/harm.html) on Mova free.