English · KJV
H2684

חֹצֶן

chôtsen /kho'tsen/ Ask about this word
Roota collateral form of חֵצֶן, and meaning the same
Meaning(the bosom (as comprised between the arms))
KJV usagearm, lap.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chôtsen — 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 chôtsen, represented by H2684, refers to the bosom, arm, or lap. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its base definition is {the bosom (as comprised between the arms)}, indicating a space for holding or carrying.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H2684 is used in two distinct and powerful contexts. In Nehemiah, it is used in a symbolic act of judgment. Nehemiah shook his lap to illustrate how God would shake out any man who did not keep his promise Nehemiah 5:13. In Isaiah, the word conveys a sense of tender restoration and gathering, where the Lord GOD promises that the Gentiles will bring thy sons in their arms Isaiah 49:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the actions associated with H2684:

  • H1121 bên (son): The direct object of the action in Isaiah's prophecy. The promise is that thy sons will be brought back in their arms Isaiah 49:22, highlighting the preciousness of what is being carried.
  • H3802 kâthêph (shoulder): Used in parallel with chôtsen, this word emphasizes the act of carrying. The prophecy states that daughters will be carried upon their shoulders Isaiah 49:22, creating a complete picture of a people being carefully transported.
  • H3018 yᵉgîyaʻ (labour): This term signifies the result of work or toil. In Nehemiah's curse, God is called to shake a man from his house and from his labour Nehemiah 5:13, representing the complete loss of all one has worked for.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2684 is seen in its dual symbolism:

  • Symbol of Judgment: In Nehemiah's curse, the lap becomes a vessel for a symbolic gesture. Shaking the lap H2684 signifies a complete and forceful removal from one's possessions and security, just as God would shake a man from his house and labour Nehemiah 5:13.
  • Emblem of Tender Care: In contrast, Isaiah uses the word to paint a picture of restoration. The nations will bring Israel's sons in their arms H2684, a gesture of gentleness, protection, and cherished value during their prophesied return Isaiah 49:22.
  • A Place of Holding: Fundamentally, chôtsen denotes a physical space created by the body to hold something. Whether it is used to demonstrate a curse by being emptied Nehemiah 5:13 or a blessing by carrying something precious Isaiah 49:22, its significance lies in what it contains or releases.

Summary

In summary, while appearing only twice, H2684 carries significant symbolic weight. It is not merely a word for a body part, but a concept representing both severe judgment and gentle restoration. From being shaken emptied as a curse Nehemiah 5:13 to being filled with returning sons as a blessing Isaiah 49:22, chôtsen illustrates how the same physical space can convey powerful, opposing theological truths.

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 noun across 3 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.

  • חִצְנ
  • חֹצֶן

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.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H3802 כָּתֵף from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garm H3018 יְגִיעַ from יָגַע; toil; hence, a work, produce, property (as the result of labor); labour, work.

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 Nehemiah and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Nehemiah
1
Isaiah

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.