חֶסֶר
lack; hence, destitution
Definition
The Hebrew noun חֶסֶר fundamentally denotes a state of 'lack' or 'deficiency.' In its two biblical occurrences, it specifically refers to a lack of material resources, translating to 'poverty' or 'want.' In Proverbs 28:22, it describes the condition of a person who is 'in want' or impoverished. In Job 30:3, it characterizes the desperate state of outcasts who, due to their 'famine' and 'want,' are forced to scavenge in desolate places. The word thus moves from a general concept of absence to a concrete depiction of destitution.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in wisdom literature. It appears in a proverb (Proverbs 28:22) to warn against the greedy pursuit of wealth that can lead one into this state of 'want.' It also appears in Job's lament (Job 30:3), describing the extreme deprivation of those society has cast out. In both contexts, חֶסֶר describes a tangible, severe lack of life's necessities.
Etymology
חֶסֶר is a noun derived from the root חָסֵר (H2637), which means 'to lack, be lacking, decrease, or diminish.' This root conveys the action or state of being deficient. The noun form חֶסֶר concretizes this idea into the condition or thing that is missing. Related words include the adjective חָסֵר ('lacking') and the verb itself.
Semantic Range
While not a theologically heavy term, חֶסֶר contributes to the Bible's consistent concern for the poor and marginalized. It appears in wisdom texts that contrast the security of righteousness and trust in God with the insecurity of greed and self-reliance that leads to 'want' (Proverbs 28:22). In Job, it underscores the depth of human suffering and social breakdown. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical 'poverty' is not just an economic statistic but a concrete state of debilitating lack.
In ancient Israelite society, lacking basic resources (food, shelter, land) meant extreme vulnerability with little social safety net. Such 'want' (חֶסֶר) could force people into dishonorable scavenging (Job 30:3) or desperate, unethical behavior (Proverbs 28:22). This condition was seen as one of the worst curses, contrasting sharply with the blessing of abundance promised for covenant faithfulness.
עֹנִי (ʿoniy, H6040) — often 'affliction' or 'poverty,' but with a stronger connotation of misery or oppression. רֵישׁ (resh, H7389) — another term for poverty, emphasizing neediness. דַּל (dal, H1800) — describes one who is low, weak, or poor, focusing on social status and thinness.
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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