The Hebrew word chôwb, represented by H2326, refers to a debt or debtor. A highly specific term, it appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the entire Bible, anchoring its meaning to a distinct context of social justice and righteousness.
The single use of H2326 is found in a description of a just and righteous person. In Ezekiel 18:7, this individual is characterized by actions that stand in contrast to wickedness, such as having "restored to the debtor his pledge." This act is listed alongside other righteous deeds like not oppressing others, giving bread to the hungry, and clothing the naked, placing the proper treatment of a debtor as a key indicator of a moral life.
The context of H2326 is illuminated by several related words from its single verse of use:
- H2258 chăbôl (pledge): This refers to "a pawn (as security for debt)." It is the item that a righteous person restores to the debtor, highlighting a specific, tangible act of justice Ezekiel 18:7.
- H7725 shûwb (restore): This verb means "to turn back" or "restore." It describes the positive action taken toward the debtor concerning their pledge, forming the core of the righteous behavior mentioned Ezekiel 18:7.
- H3238 yânâh (oppressed): Defined as to "suppress" or "maltreat," this word is used in the same verse to describe the opposite behavior. A just person does not oppress anyone, including the debtor Ezekiel 18:7.
The theological weight of H2326 is derived entirely from its specific placement within a list of righteous behaviors.
- Economic Justice: The word is central to the principle that righteousness involves fair economic dealings. Restoring a pledge to a debtor is shown as a fundamental aspect of a just life, directly contrasted with spoiling by violence (H1497, H1500) Ezekiel 18:7.
- Tangible Righteousness: The treatment of the debtor is part of a larger pattern of concrete, physical acts of compassion. It is not an abstract concept but is demonstrated by feeding the hungry H7457 with bread H3899 and covering the naked H5903 with a garment H899 Ezekiel 18:7.
- Individual Accountability: Its appearance in Ezekiel 18 frames the treatment of a debtor as a measure of an individual's personal righteousness before God, a theme reinforced by parallel descriptions of the wicked person's actions Ezekiel 18:12.
In summary, while H2326 is an exceptionally rare word, its sole appearance in Ezekiel 18:7 gives it a powerful and clear meaning. It moves beyond a simple financial definition of "debtor" to represent a person to whom a moral and righteous duty is owed. The word illustrates how compassionate and just conduct in financial matters is an essential component and a clear sign of a life that is pleasing to God.
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