חֵצֶן
the bosom (as comprised between the arms)
Definition
The Hebrew noun חֵצֶן (chêtsen) refers specifically to the bosom, the fold of a garment above the belt used to hold or carry items, or the space between the arms when embracing or cradling. It denotes a place of intimate carrying, protection, or concealment. In its sole biblical occurrence, Psalm 129:7, it is used metaphorically for a reaper's garment, where the harvested grain is temporarily held before being gathered more permanently. This singular usage highlights a place of provisional holding, not a final destination.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 129:7. The context is agricultural imagery describing the enemies of Zion. The verse states, '...which fills not the hand of the reaper, nor the bosom (חֵצֶן) of him who binds the sheaves.' Here, the 'bosom' refers to the fold of the reaper's garment used to temporarily hold cut grain before it is bound into sheaves. The usage emphasizes insufficiency and impermanence.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to hold firmly' or 'to grasp.' This root concept is clearly reflected in the word's meaning as a place where something is securely held or carried. It is a concrete noun related to the physical act of holding or embracing.
Semantic Range
While used only once, חֵצֶן contributes to the powerful metaphor in Psalm 129. It illustrates the futility and lack of lasting success of those who oppose God's people. The enemy's harvest is so meager it doesn't even fill the temporary holding place (the bosom), let alone produce a full sheaf. This enriches the reading by grounding God's justice in tangible, agricultural imagery of failed labor and unfulfilled expectation.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the loose fold of the outer garment above the belt (the bosom) functioned as a common pocket or pouch for carrying personal items, money, or, as in this context, harvested grain. This practical, everyday understanding makes the metaphor in Psalm 129 immediately relatable to an agrarian society, contrasting the expected full harvest with a shamefully small one.
חֵיק (cheyq, H2436) — A more common word for 'bosom' or 'lap,' often used for a place of intimate care, rest, or closeness (e.g., Deuteronomy 13:6, Ruth 4:16). חֵצֶן is more specific to the garment's fold used for carrying.
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.
Full methodology & sources →