חַסִּיר

deficient

Definition

The Hebrew word חַסִּיר (chaççîyr) means 'deficient,' 'lacking,' or 'wanting.' It describes a state of being incomplete, insufficient, or falling short of a required standard or measure. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 5:27, it is used in the context of divine judgment to declare King Belshazzar as 'found wanting' when weighed on God's scales. This conveys not merely a minor shortage but a fundamental and fatal inadequacy before God.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 5:27. It appears in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel during the dramatic interpretation of the handwriting on the wall. The prophet Daniel declares to King Belshazzar, 'TEKEL; you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.' Here, the word is used in a judicial context, signifying a person's moral and spiritual deficiency when evaluated by God's perfect standard.

Etymology

חַסִּיר is an Aramaic word used in the Hebrew Bible. It derives from a root corresponding to the Hebrew root חָסֵר (ḥāsēr, H2637), which means 'to lack, decrease, or be in want.' This root conveys the core idea of deficiency or subtraction. The Aramaic form חַסִּיר functions as an adjective or stative verb meaning 'lacking' or 'deficient.'

Semantic Range

This word carries significant theological weight despite its single use. It powerfully illustrates the concept of divine judgment and human insufficiency before a holy God. In Daniel 5:27, being 'found wanting' is not about material lack but a profound spiritual and moral failure that leads to God's decisive judgment. It underscores that human kingdoms and achievements are ultimately weighed and evaluated by God's standard, and apart from Him, all are deficient. Understanding this term enriches the reading of God's justice and the seriousness of falling short of His glory.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the imagery of being 'weighed in the balances' (Daniel 5:27) would have been familiar as a metaphor for judgment and assessment. Royal inscriptions and wisdom literature sometimes used the scale as a symbol for justice and divine evaluation. The declaration that a king was 'found wanting' or deficient would have been a shocking public indictment of his fitness to rule, directly challenging his legitimacy and the favor of the gods.

חָסֵר (ḥāsēr, H2637) — The primary Hebrew root verb meaning 'to lack, be lacking, decrease'; it denotes the action or state of being without something necessary. פָּחוֹת (pāḥôṯ, H2638) — An adjective meaning 'less, lesser, inferior'; it often compares quantity or quality rather than a complete deficiency.

Word Details

Scripture References