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מַחֲסֶה

𐤌𐤇𐤎𐤄

machăçeh

H4268 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חסה to seek refuge, to take shelter, to trust

Definition

A place or means of shelter or protection from danger or hardship; by extension, figuratively, a source or object of trust or security. The term primarily designates a physical or metaphorical location of safety, but can also refer to a concept or attitude of taking refuge or confidence in someone or something.

Semantic Range

shelter, refuge, place of safety, protection (literal); source of trust, object of confidence, concept of security (figurative)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָסָה (ḥasah), meaning 'to seek refuge, to take shelter, to trust.' The noun מַחֲסֶה (machăçeh) is formed by the מ prefix and the nominal pattern that denotes place or means, hence 'place or means of refuge/shelter.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In pre-exilic and monarchic Israelite texts, מַחֲסֶה commonly refers to a literal refuge, such as protection from a storm or enemy (e.g., Psalms 61:3). It also develops a figurative sense, especially in poetic and wisdom literature, expressing an abstract reliance on a deity, a ruler, or another object of trust. In Psalms and prophetic books, it is often paired with metaphors related to physical protection (e.g., rock, stronghold), signaling broader meaning beyond mere physical shelter. The term contrasts with more militarized words for fortification (e.g., מָעוֹז, 'stronghold'), and is closely related to מִקְלָט ('asylum, refuge') but emphasizes personal or relational security over legal or territorial asylum. English translations (e.g., 'refuge,' 'shelter,' 'trust') may not always convey the subtle transition from concrete to abstract usage evident in the Hebrew text. In later periods, the term continues in post-biblical Hebrew with similar connotations of sanctuary or refuge.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מַחְסֶה; from חָסָה; a shelter (literally or figuratively); hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חסה (ḥ-s-h) — seek refuge, take shelter, trust

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2620 חָסָה she sought refuge
H2621 חֹסָה Protected One
H2622 חָסוּת and the refuge-trust
H4271 מַחְסֵיָה Yah-Is-Refuge

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4268-06 מַ֝חְסִ֗/י machesi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my refuge my shelter-refuge 6
H4268-03 מַחְסֶ֤ה macheseh HNcmsa a refuge place of refuge 6
H4268-01 מַֽחֲסֶ֣ה machaseh HNcmsa refuge place of refuge 3
H4268-02 מַֽחֲסִ/י machasi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my refuge my shelter 2
H4268-04 מַחְסֵֽ/הוּ machesehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his refuge his place of refuge 1
H4268-05 מַחְסֵ֖/נוּ machesenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our refuge our shelter-refuge 1
H4268-07 וּ/לְ/מַחְסֶה֙ ulemacheseh HC/R/Ncmsa and for a refuge and for a shelter-refuge 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4268-07 Isaiah 4:6 וּ/לְ/מַחְסֶה֙ ulemacheseh HC/R/Ncmsa and for a refuge and for a shelter-refuge
H4268-03 Isaiah 25:4 מַחְסֶ֤ה macheseh HNcmsa a refuge place of refuge
H4268-05 Isaiah 28:15 מַחְסֵ֖/נוּ machesenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our refuge our shelter-refuge
H4268-03 Isaiah 28:17 מַחְסֵ֣ה macheseh HNcmsc the refuge place of refuge
H4268-02 Jeremiah 17:17 מַֽחֲסִ/י machasi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my refuge my shelter
H4268-01 Joel 4:16 מַֽחֲסֶ֣ה machaseh HNcmsa refuge place of refuge
H4268-04 Psalms 14:6 מַחְסֵֽ/הוּ machesehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his refuge his place of refuge
H4268-01 Psalms 46:2 מַחֲסֶ֣ה machaseh HNcmsa refuge place of refuge
H4268-03 Psalms 61:4 מַחְסֶ֣ה macheseh HNcmsa a shelter place of refuge
H4268-06 Psalms 62:8 מַ֝חְסִ֗/י machesi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my refuge my shelter-refuge
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