חִשָּׁבוֹן
𐤇𐤔𐤁𐤅𐤍
chishshâbôwn
H2810 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device or contrivance, either physical (such as a mechanical implement or instrument, particularly in warfare) or conceptual (such as a plan, scheme, or calculation). The term can refer to an actual artifact designed for a particular purpose, especially in military contexts, or an abstract scheme or intention devised in the mind. Its semantic range thus includes both tangible implements and intangible plans or designs.
Semantic Range
mechanical device, war machine, implement, invention, contrivance, plan, scheme, mental construct
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָשַׁב (ḥāshav), meaning 'to think, plan, devise, reckon.' The noun חִשָּׁבוֹן forms from this root, denoting something that is the product of thought—thus, a plan, device, or invention. The word reflects the transition from the mental process (thinking, planning) to the outcome (a devised object or scheme).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested primarily in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, חִשָּׁבוֹן appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (notably in 2 Chronicles 26:15 where it denotes military contrivances or engines). In this context, the term chiefly refers to mechanisms designed for warfare—a specialized, concrete usage. In post-biblical times, its meaning broadens to include both tangible inventions and mental constructs (ideas, schemes, calculations). English translations often render it as 'engine' or 'invention,' which capture the technological aspect but do not always convey the conceptual sense. The root חָשַׁב gives rise to a wide family of terms related to thinking, accounting, and planning. Distinct from מַחֲשָׁבָה (machăshāvāh, 'thought' or 'plan'), which denotes the abstract result of thinking, חִשָּׁבוֹן often implies the application or embodiment of a plan, whether in physical or mental form. The English term 'invention' best approximates its range but may suggest modernity or originality not always present in biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָשַׁב; a contrivance, i.e. actual (a warlike machine) or mental (a machination); engine, invention.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
חֲשׁב (chishshâbôwn) — to think, plan, devise, reckon
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2810-01 |
חִשְּׁבֹנ֜וֹת | chishevonot | HNcmpa |
engines | devised contrivances | contrivances | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2810-01 |
Ecclesiastes 7:29 | חִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹת | chishevonot | HNcmpa |
devised contrivances | contrivances | |
H2810-01 |
2 Chronicles 26:15 | חִשְּׁבֹנ֜וֹת | chishevonot | HNcmpa |
engines | devised contrivances | devices |