### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chêtsîy**, represented by `{{H2677}}`, is derived from חָצָה and signifies **the half or middle**. It appears 125 times across 103 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses concepts such as half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, and two parts, highlighting its use in division and measurement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2677}}` is used in several key contexts. It is used for literal divisions, such as when Moses took **half** of the blood for the altar [[Exodus 24:6]], and for precise measurements in constructing sacred items like the ark [[Exodus 25:10]]. The word also denotes the division of people and land, as when the tribes of Israel were divided with **half** the tribe of Manasseh settling beyond the Jordan [[Numbers 32:33]], or when Israel was split into two **parts** during a political conflict [[1 Kings 16:21]]. Furthermore, it is applied to time, signifying the middle point of a period, such as **midnight** [[Exodus 12:29]] or the **midst** of a prophetic week [[Daniel 9:27]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of division and measurement:
* `{{H4294}}` **maṭṭeh** (tribe): This word is frequently used with `{{H2677}}` to describe the "**half** tribe" of Manasseh, illustrating a significant division of the Israelite people [[Joshua 14:2]].
* `{{H2506}}` **chêleq** (part, portion): This term signifies an allotted portion or inheritance. It is used in contexts of dividing land, noting that the Levites received no **part** among the other tribes [[Joshua 18:7]].
* `{{H520}}` **ʼammâh** (cubit): As a unit of measure, this word is often paired with `{{H2677}}` to specify fractional measurements, such as "a **cubit** and a half" in the construction of the ark [[Exodus 25:10]].
* `{{H8432}}` **tâvek** (middle, midst): This word also denotes the center or middle, as seen in the description of a boundary running from the **middle** of the river [[Joshua 12:2]], providing a nuanced comparison to `{{H2677}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2677}}` is evident in its application to sacred, prophetic, and human contexts.
* **Divine Measurement and Order:** The term is used to define the precise dimensions of sacred furniture like the Ark of the Covenant [[Exodus 25:10]] and the mercy seat [[Exodus 25:17]]. This emphasizes God's concern for order and specific measures in worship. Its use in dividing the blood of the covenant reinforces its role in holy rituals [[Exodus 24:6]].
* **Prophetic Timelines and Judgment:** `{{H2677}}` marks critical junctures in prophecy. It is used to pinpoint the timing of desolation "in the **midst** of the week" [[Daniel 9:27]] and to describe the eschatological division of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives ([[Zechariah 14:2]], [[Zechariah 14:4]]).
* **Division of Covenant Inheritance:** The recurring mention of the "**half** tribe of Manasseh" [[Numbers 32:33]] demonstrates how God's promises of land and inheritance were divided and distributed among his people, establishing their territories.
* **Human Frailty:** The word is used to describe the midpoint of life, a time of vulnerability. The psalmist pleads not to be taken "in the **midst** of my days" [[Psalms 102:24]], and Jeremiah warns that the unrighteous man may lose everything "in the **midst** of his days" [[Jeremiah 17:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2677}}` is a word that signifies far more than a simple fraction. It is a fundamental term for division that is applied to physical objects, sacred measurements, land, people, and time itself. From dividing a blood offering at the altar to marking the midpoint of a prophetic timeline, **chêtsîy** illustrates the biblical emphasis on precision, apportionment, and sovereign division. It is a word that defines boundaries, both in the physical inheritance of Israel and in the temporal limits of human life, revealing layers of meaning from the literal half to the symbolic midst of God's divine plan.
TRV