חָשַׂף

châsaph /khaw-saf'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto strip off, i.e. generally to make naked (for exertion or in disgrace), to drain away or bail up (a liquid)
KJV usagemake bare, clean, discover, draw out, take, uncover.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châsaph, represented by H2834, is a primitive root meaning to strip off, make naked, or drain away. It appears 11 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. Its core meaning involves uncovering or baring something, an act which can signify disgrace, exertion, or the simple act of drawing out a liquid.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H2834 carries a dual connotation depending on the context. It often describes an act of judgment or humiliation, as when God threatens to discover Judah's skirts to expose her shame Jeremiah 13:26 or when captive Egyptians are led away with their buttocks uncovered Isaiah 20:4. In a different context, it signifies the preparation for divine action, as when the LORD has made bare his holy arm in the sight of all nations, preparing to bring salvation Isaiah 52:10. The word is also used literally for drawing liquid, such as to take water from a pit Isaiah 30:14 or to draw out from a press Haggai 2:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of uncovering and revealing:

  • H1540 gâlâh: A primitive root meaning to denude or reveal. It is often used in parallel with H2834 to intensify the idea of exposure, as seen in the judgment against Esau, whom God has made bare and uncovered Jeremiah 49:10.
  • H6174 ʻârôwm: This word means nude or naked. It describes the state that results from the action of H2834. In Isaiah 20:4, the captives' buttocks are uncovered H2834, contributing to their naked H6174 and shameful state.
  • H7200 râʼâh: Meaning to see, this word often describes the consequence of something being made bare. After the LORD makes his arm bare H2834, all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God Isaiah 52:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2834 is demonstrated in its contrasting applications of judgment and salvation.

  • Divine Judgment: The act of stripping bare is a powerful metaphor for God's judgment. It signifies the removal of all protection, honor, and pretense, leaving sin and shame exposed for all to see. This is evident in the prophecies against Babylon Isaiah 47:2 and Judah Jeremiah 13:26.
  • Divine Action and Power: In a striking reversal, the same word is used to describe God's own preparation for a mighty act of salvation. By making His arm bare Isaiah 52:10, God reveals His power, "rolling up His sleeves" to work on behalf of His people. The prophet Ezekiel's uncovered arm likewise symbolizes readiness to prophesy against Jerusalem Ezekiel 4:7.
  • Revelation of Reality: At its core, the word is about revealing what is hidden. The voice of the LORD discovereth the forests Psalms 29:9, stripping them back. This action, whether in nature or in judgment, shows God's power to expose the true state of things.

Summary

In summary, H2834 is a dynamic word that conveys much more than its simple definition. While it can literally mean to draw out water, its theological significance lies in the powerful imagery of "making bare." Depending on the subject and context, this act can represent the ultimate shame of divine judgment or the glorious prelude to divine salvation, illustrating God's authority to both expose and to save.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and a noun across 11 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Infinitive Construct 2×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Qal Participle Passive Singular Feminine Absolute 1×
  • Singular common gender Construct 1×
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 10 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses).

1
Psalms
4
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Joel
1
Haggai

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