הוּן
𐤄𐤅𐤍
hûwn
H1951 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be light, of little account, insignificant; to be quick, ready, or easily moved; (figuratively) to act with swiftness, recklessness, or worthlessness. The term conveys both a sense of physical or moral lightness and, by extension, lack of value or seriousness in conduct or character.
Semantic Range
to be light (in weight, value, status), to be insignificant, to be easily moved, to be ready or quick, to act rashly or without seriousness, to be contemptible
Root / Etymology
The root הון (H1951) reflects an original sense of 'lightness' (in weight or worth), likely related to cognate roots in other Semitic languages with similar meanings. While its nominal forms (notably הוֹן, 'wealth,' likely developed via a semantic shift toward 'that which is easily moved or lifts up') are attested, as a verb its appearances are rare and mostly poetic or figurative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb הוּן is extremely rare in biblical Hebrew, appearing only in a very limited number of passages (e.g., Prov 13:7, Prov 12:9) and usually in the niphal or hithpael forms—sometimes with ambiguity as to exact nuance. The primary verbal idea is 'to be light' (in weight or status), which can extend to being insignificant, contemptible, or quick/movable. In some contexts, it connotes readiness or hastiness, possibly with a negative overtone of being rash or insubstantial. In later Hebrew, the related nouns (e.g., הוֹן, 'wealth') became much more common and lost the core sense of 'lightness.' English translations sometimes render the verb with idiomatic phrases ('to think little of,' 'to act rashly'), which may not capture the nuance of insubstantiality or worthlessness. The word should be distinguished from קלל (qalal), which also carries the idea of 'lightness' but is more commonly used both for weight and for contempt or curse. The semantic overlap with קלל and זול ('to be cheap') suggests a cluster of related but distinct roots for ideas of smallness, insignificance, or lack of seriousness, each with its own nuanced range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to be naught, i.e. (figuratively) to be (causatively, act) light; be ready.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הון (h-w-n) — lightness, insignificance, readiness, swiftness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1952 | הוֹן | material wealth |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1951-01 |
וַ/תָּהִ֖ינוּ | vatahinu | HC/Vhw2mp |
and you were ready | and you made light of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1951-01 |
Deuteronomy 1:41 | וַ/תָּהִ֖ינוּ | vatahinu | HC/Vhw2mp |
and you were ready | and you made light of |