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חֹסֶן

𐤇𐤎𐤍

chôçen

H2633 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Substance or material possessions, especially as representing valuables, wealth, or resources. The term can connote tangible assets (such as silver, gold, or other valuables), or denote an abstract sense of strength or firmness derived from possessing such resources. Occasionally, it is used figuratively for sources of security and stability.

Semantic Range

wealth, riches, material possessions, treasure, substance, reserve, (less commonly) strength or source of security

Root / Etymology

From the root חָסַן (ḥāsan), meaning 'to be strong' or 'to be firm.' The noun חֹסֶן is formed on this root and abstractly denotes that which provides strength or security — thus, one's wealth, riches, or treasure. The process involves shift from a root idea of strength to the concrete societal manifestation of strength, that is, accumulated wealth or resources.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֹסֶן occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Prov 11:4, Isa 10:13), and typically refers to valuables, treasures, or wealth as a symbol of social status, power, or security. In wisdom literature, it is often cast in a negative or relativized light, emphasizing the inability of wealth to provide ultimate security (cf. Proverbs 11:4, 'Wealth [חֹסֶן] is of no benefit on the day of wrath'). Slightly different from other words for wealth (such as עֹשֶׁר or הוֹן), חֹסֶן often has the added nuance of stored or accumulated wealth, sometimes with implications of lasting value or reserve. Occasionally, חֹסֶן is translated as 'strength,' deriving from the root's original sense, though most biblical usages emphasize material possessions rather than abstract might. Later Jewish literature sometimes broadens its use for storehouses or hidden treasures. Modern translations may render it as 'wealth,' 'riches,' or 'treasure,' but should note the archaic sense of resource or substance.

Translation Consistency

primary "wealth" 5 occurrences

Wealth best captures the typical semantic range (material possessions, riches, treasure, resources) in natural, everyday English. It covers both tangible assets and the abstract sense of resources or security and matches the attested P2 renderings. 'Wealth' is concise and consistent for all forms of H2633.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָסַן; wealth; riches, strength, treasure.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חסן (chăçîyn) — to be firm, to be secure, to be strong

Root חסן to be strong, to be firm, to be secure
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2626 חֲסִין strong one
H2630 חָסַן he will be stored up
H2631 חֲסַן they secured possession
H2632 חֵסֶן the stored wealth
H2634 חָסֹן the strong one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2633-01 חֹ֤סֶן chosen HNcmsa treasure wealth of wealth of 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2633-01 Isaiah 33:6 חֹ֥סֶן chosen HNcmsc strength wealth of wealth of
H2633-01 Jeremiah 20:5 חֹ֨סֶן֙ chosen HNcmsc strength/wealth wealth of wealth of
H2633-01 Ezekiel 22:25 חֹ֤סֶן chosen HNcmsa treasure wealth of wealth of
H2633-01 Proverbs 15:6 חֹ֣סֶן chosen HNcmsa treasure wealth of wealth of
H2633-01 Proverbs 27:24 חֹ֑סֶן chosen HNcmsa riches wealth of wealth of
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