חַסְרָה
Chasrah, an Israelite
Definition
Chasrah (חַסְרָה) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite individual, specifically the grandfather of Tikvah, who is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 34:22. The name is derived from the Hebrew root meaning 'to lack' or 'to be in want,' suggesting a possible meaning like 'want' or 'lack.' As a personal name, it likely carried a symbolic or descriptive significance, perhaps reflecting circumstances of birth or a hope for divine provision. The single biblical occurrence identifies him within the lineage of Tikvah, a figure involved in King Josiah's religious reforms.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 34:22, where it identifies 'Chasrah, the grandfather of Tikvah.' Tikvah is noted as the father of Shallum, the husband of the prophetess Huldah, who was consulted during King Josiah's reign. The usage is purely as a proper name to denote ancestry within a historical narrative, with no other contextual patterns.
Etymology
Chasrah is derived from the Hebrew root חָסֵר (chaser, H2637), which means 'to lack,' 'to be in want,' 'to decrease,' or 'to fail.' The name is a feminine noun form of this root, literally meaning 'want' or 'lack.' It shares this root with words like חֹסֶר (choser, H2639), meaning 'lack' or 'need,' reflecting a concept of deficiency or need.
Semantic Range
While the name Chasrah itself is not theologically loaded, its etymological connection to 'lack' or 'want' can subtly remind readers of human dependence on God. In the context of 2 Chronicles 34, where his descendant is linked to the prophetess Huldah during a pivotal reform, it may indirectly highlight how God uses individuals from all backgrounds—even those whose names suggest humility or need—in His redemptive work. Understanding the root meaning enriches the narrative by adding a layer of symbolic depth to the personal name.
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names often carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances, hopes, or attributes. A name like Chasrah ('want' or 'lack') might have been given in a time of hardship or as a reminder of dependence on God, similar to other names denoting human condition (e.g., Jabez, meaning 'he causes pain' in 1 Chronicles 4:9). This differs from modern naming conventions, which often prioritize sound or tradition over literal meaning.
חָסֵר (chaser, H2637) — the root verb meaning 'to lack' or 'to be in want.' חֹסֶר (choser, H2639) — a noun meaning 'lack,' 'need,' or 'poverty,' denoting the state of deficiency.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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