English · KJV
H2629

חָסַם

châçam /khaw-sam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto muzzle; by analogy, to stop the nose
KJV usagemuzzle, stop.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of châçam — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châçam, represented by H2629, is a primitive root meaning to muzzle. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Beyond its literal definition, it is also used by analogy to stop the nose.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two biblical occurrences of H2629 demonstrate its literal and metaphorical applications. In the Law, it is used as a direct command regarding the treatment of a working animal: "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn" Deuteronomy 25:4. In prophecy, it is used figuratively to describe the overwhelming outcome of God's judgment against Gog, where the stench of mass graves "shall stop the noses of the passengers" Ezekiel 39:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the use of H2629:

  • H7794 shôwr (ox): This is the word for the animal that is the subject of the command in Deuteronomy. The law explicitly forbids muzzling the ox while it is working Deuteronomy 25:4.
  • H6912 qâbar (to bury): This verb is central to the prophecy in Ezekiel, as the act to bury Gog's multitude is what produces the effect that will stop the noses of travelers Ezekiel 39:11.
  • H6913 qeber (grave, sepulchre): This noun identifies the "place of graves" given to Gog's army. It is this mass sepulchre that creates the scene described by the metaphorical use of H2629 Ezekiel 39:11.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2629 is seen in its two distinct contexts.

  • A Principle of Mercy and Provision: The literal use of H2629 in the Law demonstrates a principle of compassion. The command not to muzzle the ox H7794 as it works ensures that the creature is provided for from the labor it performs Deuteronomy 25:4.
  • A Symbol of Overwhelming Judgment: Metaphorically, the word conveys the totality of divine judgment. The stench from the burial of Gog's multitude is prophesied to be so great it will "stop" the noses of passengers, signifying a divine act so final and vast that it physically impacts the landscape Ezekiel 39:11.

Summary

In summary, H2629 châçam is a specific term with two powerful and distinct applications in scripture. From the literal command to not muzzle a working animal in Deuteronomy 25:4 to its metaphorical use describing the overwhelming consequence of divine judgment in Ezekiel 39:11, the word illustrates both a principle of mercy in the law and the profound finality of God's prophetic wrath.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תַחְסֹם
  • חֹסֶמֶת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7794 שׁוֹר from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). H6912 קָבַר a primitive root; to inter; [idiom] in any wise, bury(-ier). H6913 קֶבֶר or (feminine) קִבְרָה; from קָבַר; a sepulchre; burying place, grave, sepulchre.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy and Ezekiel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Deuteronomy
1
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.