חוֹב
debt
Definition
The Hebrew noun חוֹב (chôwb) primarily means 'debt' or 'that which is owed.' It refers to a financial or legal obligation that one person owes to another. In its single biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 18:7, the word is used in a legal context describing a righteous man who 'does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge.' The word conveys the concept of a binding liability, whether monetary or, by potential extension in other contexts, a moral or social obligation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 18:7. It appears within a list of righteous actions, specifically in the context of fair financial dealings and justice. The usage is legal and economic, focusing on the proper treatment of someone under a debt obligation. The context emphasizes not taking unfair advantage of a debtor's pledged collateral.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb חוּב (chûb, H2325), which means 'to be guilty' or 'to become obligated.' The noun חוֹב (chôwb) specifically denotes the state or object of that obligation—the debt itself. Cognate words in related Semitic languages also carry meanings of debt, sin, or obligation, showing a conceptual link between financial, legal, and moral liability.
Semantic Range
While used only once, this word connects to broader biblical themes of justice, righteousness, and economic ethics. In Ezekiel 18:7, the handling of debt is a key marker of a righteous person, reflecting God's concern for just social and economic relationships. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that financial integrity is not a secondary moral issue but is integral to the biblical definition of righteousness before God.
In ancient Israelite society, debt was a serious matter that could lead to indentured servitude or loss of property. Laws in the Torah (e.g., Exodus 22:25-27, Deuteronomy 24:10-13) were designed to protect the poor from exploitation by creditors. The mention of restoring a 'pledge' (collateral) in Ezekiel 18:7 directly references these cultural and legal protections, emphasizing compassion and the preservation of the debtor's dignity and basic necessities.
חוב (chôb, H2326) — the standard term for debt/obligation. נשׁא (nâshâ', H5383) — a verb meaning 'to lend' or 'to be a creditor,' focusing on the act of creating a debt. עשׁק (‛âshaq, H6231) — 'to oppress' or 'defraud,' often in the context of unjust financial dealings, which is the opposite of the righteous action described with חוֹב.
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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