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חָסֵר

𐤇𐤎𐤓

châçêr

H2638 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root חסר to be lacking, to be deficient, to be diminished

Definition

To lack, be without, be missing, or be in need of something; to have less than is necessary or desired, to be diminished or deprived. The verb is used of material needs (e.g., lacking food or possessions), emotional states (e.g., feeling want or deficiency), as well as in broader metaphorical contexts (e.g., lacking righteousness or wisdom).

Semantic Range

to be lacking, to lack, to be in need, to do without, to be deprived, to be diminished, to be without, to decrease, to be insufficient, to fail (of supply or provision)

Root / Etymology

From the root חסר (ח-ס-ר), conveying the sense of being diminished or reduced. The verb חָסֵר takes the qal stem as 'to lack,' 'to be deficient,' and in the piel/hiphil stems as 'to cause to lack,' 'to deprive.' The noun form (חֶסְרוֹן) denotes 'lack' or 'deficiency.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָסֵר is used throughout the Hebrew Bible in a range of contexts. In the Torah, it often indicates physical deprivation or the absence of material goods (e.g., Deut 2:7). In wisdom literature (e.g., Ecclesiastes, Proverbs), it can refer to a lack of wisdom, joy, or purpose, reflecting more abstract or existential deficiency. Psalms and prophets apply the term metaphorically to spiritual or moral poverty (e.g., Psalm 34:10). Over time, the term retained its core sense of deficiency but broadened to encompass needs beyond the material. English translations typically render חָסֵר as 'lack,' 'want,' or 'be without,' but may not always convey the emotional or existential nuances present in the Hebrew. The word is distinct from אָבַד (to be lost, perish), which implies total loss, while חָסֵר implies partial or incomplete supply. In post-biblical Hebrew, חסר continues with similar senses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָסֵר; lacking; hence, without; destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חסר (ḥ-s-r) — to be lacking, to be deficient, to be diminished

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2627 חַסִּיר deficient one
H2637 חָסֵר we lacked
H2639 חֶסֶר in lack
H2640 חֹסֶר in lack of
H2641 חַסְרָה Chasrah

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2638-02 חֲסַ֤ר chasar HAamsc lacking lacking of 10
H2638-03 חָסֵר֙ chaser HAamsa lacked lacking 4
H2638-05 וַ/חֲסַר vachasar HC/Aamsc and lacking and lacking-of 3
H2638-04 לַ/חֲסַר lachasar HR/Aamsa to him who lacks to a lacking one 1
H2638-01 בַּ/חֲסַר bachasar HR/Aamsc for lack of in lack of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2638-02 1 Samuel 21:16 חֲסַ֤ר chasar HAamsc lack lacking of
H2638-05 2 Samuel 3:29 וַ/חֲסַר vachasar HC/Aamsc or who lacks and lacking-of
H2638-03 1 Kings 11:22 חָסֵר֙ chaser HAamsa lacked lacking
H2638-03 1 Kings 17:16 חָסֵ֑ר chaser HVqp3ms lacked lacking
H2638-02 Proverbs 6:32 חֲסַר chasar HAamsc lacks lacking of
H2638-02 Proverbs 7:7 חֲסַר chasar HAamsc lacking lacking of
H2638-02 Proverbs 9:4 חֲסַר chasar HAamsc lacking lacking of
H2638-05 Proverbs 9:16 וַ/חֲסַר vachasar HC/Aamsc and lacking and lacking-of
H2638-02 Proverbs 10:13 חֲסַר chasar HAamsc who lacks lacking of
H2638-01 Proverbs 10:21 בַּ/חֲסַר bachasar HR/Aamsc for lack of in lack of
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