What does חָסָה (ḥôsê) mean in the Bible?
חָסָה (ḥôsê): Seeking physical refuge naturally extends to trusting or confiding in a protective authority
Hebrew · H2620
חָסָה
To flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in
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חָסָה H2620
Pronunciation ḥôsê
What does חָסָה (ḥôsê) mean in the Bible?
חָסָה (ḥôsê): Seeking physical refuge naturally extends to trusting or confiding in a protective authority
Full entry for חָסָה (H2620) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2620?
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include who take refuge (5), I take refuge (4), and take refuge (3), in whom I take refuge (3), I have taken refuge (2).
Where does חָסָה (ḥôsê) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 32:37. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (25), Isaiah (3), 2 Samuel (2), Proverbs (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It who take refuge 5× 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 2:12, Psalms 5:11, Psalms 18:30
I take refuge 4× Psalms 7:1, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
and take refuge 3× Psalms 61:4, Psalms 64:10, Isaiah 30:2
in whom I take refuge 3× 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 144:2
I have taken refuge 2× Psalms 31:1, Psalms 71:1
to take refuge 2× Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
and find refuge 1× Judges 9:15
and they will trust 1× Zephaniah 3:12
But he who seeks refuge 1× Isaiah 57:13
has a refuge 1× Proverbs 14:32
I seek refuge 1× Psalms 141:8
I will take shelter 1× Psalms 57:1
on those who take refuge 1× Psalms 31:19
refuge 1× Ruth 2:12
take refuge 1× Psalms 36:7
takes refuge 1× Psalms 57:1
they take refuge 1× Psalms 37:40
they took refuge 1× Deuteronomy 32:37
those who seek refuge 1× Psalms 17:7
those who trust 1× Nahum 1:7
to those who take refuge 1× Proverbs 30:5
who takes refuge 1× Psalms 34:8
will find refuge 1× Isaiah 14:32
you will find refuge 1× Psalms 91:4
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 32:37 חָסָ֥יוּ to they took refuge Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Judges 9:15 חֲס֣וּ to and find refuge Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Ruth 2:12 לַחֲס֥וֹת to refuge Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 2 Samuel 22:3 אֶחֱסֶה־ to in whom I take refuge Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular 2 Samuel 22:31 הַחֹסִ֥ים to who take refuge Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Psalms 2:12 ח֥וֹסֵי to who take refuge Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Psalms 5:11 ח֪וֹסֵי to who take refuge Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Psalms 7:1 חָסִ֑יתִי to I take refuge Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Psalms 11:1 חָסִ֗יתִי to I take refuge Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Psalms 16:1 חָסִ֥יתִי to I take refuge Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 32:37
Aligned rows 37
Books represented 9
Deuteronomy 1 Judges 1 Ruth 1 2 Samuel 2 Psalms 25 Proverbs 2 Isaiah 3 Nahum 1 Zephaniah 1
Source forms
חָסִ֑יתִי 3x ḥā·sî·ṯî Psalms 7:1, Psalms 71:1, Psalms 144:2
לַחֲס֥וֹת 3x la·ḥă·sō·wṯ Ruth 2:12, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
הַחֹסִ֥ים 2x ha·ḥō·sîm 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 34:22
חָסִ֥יתִי 2x ḥā·sî·ṯî Psalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
אֶחְסֶ֑ה 1x ’eḥ·seh Psalms 57:1
אֶֽחֱסֶ֨ה 1x ’e·ḥĕ·seh Psalms 61:4
אֶחֱסֶה־ 1x ’e·ḥĕ·seh- 2 Samuel 22:3
אֶֽחֱסֶה־ 1x ’e·ḥĕ·seh- Psalms 18:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 8x Psalms 7:1, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 3x 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 18:30, Psalms 34:22
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 3x Ruth 2:12, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular 3x 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 57:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct 3x Psalms 2:12, Psalms 5:11, Nahum 1:7
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 2x Psalms 31:19, Proverbs 30:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 2x Deuteronomy 32:37, Psalms 37:40
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 1x Zephaniah 3:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Seeking physical refuge naturally extends to trusting or confiding in a protective authority
Strong's H2620
Lexical occurrences 37 verses Word forms 1 form 23 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Isaiah 14:28-32 Source Gloss
to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Seeking physical refuge naturally extends to trusting or confiding in a protective authority
to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in BDB: seek refuge Usage: have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 23
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 23×
Perfect Ps 7:2 · Ps 11:1 · Ps 16:1 · Ps 25:20 · Ps 31:2 · Ps 71:1 · Ps 141:8 · Ps 144:2 · Deut 32:37 · Ps 37:40 · Ps 57:2 11×
Imperfect 2Sam 22:3 · Ps 18:3 · Ps 57:2 · Ps 61:5 · Isa 14:32 · Ps 34:9 · Ps 91:4 7×
Participle active Nah 1:7 · Ps 2:12 · Ps 5:12 · Ps 17:7 4×
Sequential imperfect Judg 9:15 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To seek shelter or protection.
Those taking refuge or trusting; finding safety in a person or place
I have taken refuge; I have sought shelter or trusted
I have taken refuge; I have sought shelter or protection in God
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָסָה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
True safety is found in seeking protection in the Lord’s dwelling. Isaiah 14:28-32
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain