from an unused root meaning to hold firmly; the bosom (as comprised between the arms); bosom.
Transliteration:chêtsen
Pronunciation:khay'-tsen
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H2683 (חֵצֶן, *chêtsen*) originates from an unused root that conveys the sense of "to hold firmly." Its primary lexical meaning is "bosom" or "lap," specifically referring to the area of the chest or the folds of a garment that lie between the arms. This definition inherently suggests a place of containment, safekeeping, or intimate proximity. It denotes a capacity to hold, receive, or carry, often with the implication of closeness or possession.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H2683 appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance offering a distinct yet related contextual nuance:
* **[[Nehemiah 5:13]]**: "Also I shook out my lap (חֵצֶן) and said, 'So may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not perform this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.' And all the assembly said, 'Amen!' And they praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise."
In this powerful symbolic act, Nehemiah shakes out the folds of his garment (his chêtsen), from which one might typically carry items. This gesture serves as a vivid visual curse, signifying the complete divestment and emptying of possessions and security for those who would break their solemn oath. Here, the chêtsen represents a container or a place where one's substance is held, emphasizing the dramatic and total nature of the impending judgment.
* **[[Psalm 129:7]]**: "with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his bosom (חֵצֶן)."
This verse describes the futility and lack of success experienced by those who hate Zion. The imagery is agricultural: just as a reaper cannot fill his hand with the meager growth of rooftop grass, nor can a binder of sheaves fill his chêtsen (bosom/lap) with a bountiful harvest. The chêtsen here again functions as a receptacle, highlighting the utter unproductiveness and lack of reward for the adversaries of God's people. It underscores the barrenness of their efforts and the absence of any lasting fruit.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2683 overlaps with other Hebrew terms related to the body and actions of holding or containing:
* **`{{H2436}}` חֵיק (*ḥêq*)**: This is the most common Hebrew word for "bosom" or "lap." While sharing the core meaning of a place of closeness or carrying, `{{H2436}}` has a much broader range of usage, often denoting intimacy (e.g., a wife in one's bosom), protection (e.g., carrying a lamb in the bosom), or the source of one's inner being. H2683 seems to emphasize the *holding capacity* of the bosom, especially in a functional or symbolic sense of carrying or containing.
* **`{{H3588}}` כַּף (*kaph*)**: Meaning "palm of the hand," this term is often used in parallel with the "bosom" to denote a capacity for holding or receiving, as seen in [[Psalm 129:7]].
* **`{{H2654}}` חֹב (*ḥōv*)**: Related to the verb "to embrace," this noun also signifies the "bosom" and emphasizes the act of holding close.
* **Concepts**: Holding, containing, receiving, emptiness, fruitfulness/barrenness, divine judgment, covenant fidelity.
### Theological Significance
Despite its limited occurrences, the word H2683 carries profound theological weight in its specific contexts. In both instances, the chêtsen serves as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of human action in relation to divine principles.
In [[Nehemiah 5:13]], the shaking out of the chêtsen is a performative curse that underscores the sanctity of oaths and the severity of God's judgment against unfaithfulness. It illustrates that God will indeed "empty out" those who betray their commitments, signifying a complete loss of security and possessions. This act highlights the justice of God and the tangible consequences of covenant breaking.
In [[Psalm 129:7]], the inability to fill the chêtsen with harvest represents the ultimate futility of evil and opposition to God's chosen people. It speaks to the divine principle that wickedness, though it may seem to prosper for a time, ultimately yields no lasting fruit or true reward. It is a testament to the barrenness of a life lived apart from God's favor and purposes.
Thus, the chêtsen, though rarely mentioned, becomes a poignant symbol for the receptacles of human endeavor and blessing, which can either be emptied by divine judgment or remain unfulfilled due to spiritual barrenness, ultimately affirming God's sovereignty over the outcomes of human actions.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2683 (חֵצֶן, *chêtsen*), derived from a root suggesting "to hold firmly," denotes the "bosom" or "lap," specifically the area between the arms conceived as a container. Its rare occurrences in the biblical text are highly significant. In [[Nehemiah 5:13]], the symbolic act of shaking out the chêtsen represents a solemn curse of complete divestment and emptiness for those who violate a sacred oath, underscoring the severity of covenant breaking and divine judgment. In [[Psalm 129:7]], the inability of the reaper to fill his chêtsen metaphorically portrays the utter futility and lack of reward for those who oppose Zion, emphasizing the barrenness of wickedness. While sharing semantic space with the more common `{{H2436}}` (*ḥêq*), H2683 distinctly highlights the *capacity* for holding or receiving. Theologically, its usage underscores themes of divine justice, the consequences of unfaithfulness, and the ultimate unproductiveness of opposition to God's purposes, serving as a potent, albeit rare, symbol for the receptacles of human endeavor that can be either emptied by judgment or remain unfulfilled due to spiritual barrenness.
TRV