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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חָסָהH2620
Pronunciationḥôsê
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 Itwho take refuge5×2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 2:12, Psalms 5:11, Psalms 18:30
I take refuge4×Psalms 7:1, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
and take refuge3×Psalms 61:4, Psalms 64:10, Isaiah 30:2
in whom I take refuge3×2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 144:2
I have taken refuge2×Psalms 31:1, Psalms 71:1
to take refuge2×Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
and find refuge1×Judges 9:15
and they will trust1×Zephaniah 3:12
But he who seeks refuge1×Isaiah 57:13
has a refuge1×Proverbs 14:32
I seek refuge1×Psalms 141:8
I will take shelter1×Psalms 57:1
on those who take refuge1×Psalms 31:19
refuge1×Ruth 2:12
take refuge1×Psalms 36:7
takes refuge1×Psalms 57:1
they take refuge1×Psalms 37:40
they took refuge1×Deuteronomy 32:37
those who seek refuge1×Psalms 17:7
those who trust1×Nahum 1:7
to those who take refuge1×Proverbs 30:5
who takes refuge1×Psalms 34:8
will find refuge1×Isaiah 14:32
you will find refuge1×Psalms 91:4
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 32:37חָסָ֥יוּtothey took refugeVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJudges 9:15חֲס֣וּtoand find refugeVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralRuth 2:12לַחֲס֥וֹתtorefugePreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2 Samuel 22:3אֶחֱסֶה־toin whom I take refugeVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular2 Samuel 22:31הַחֹסִ֥יםtowho take refugeArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 2:12ח֥וֹסֵיtowho take refugeVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructPsalms 5:11ח֪וֹסֵיtowho take refugeVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructPsalms 7:1חָסִ֑יתִיtoI take refugeVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 11:1חָסִ֗יתִיtoI take refugeVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 16:1חָסִ֥יתִיtoI take refugeVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 32:37
Aligned rows37
Books represented9
Deuteronomy1Judges1Ruth12 Samuel2Psalms25Proverbs2Isaiah3Nahum1Zephaniah1
Source forms
חָסִ֑יתִי3xḥā·sî·ṯîPsalms 7:1, Psalms 71:1, Psalms 144:2
לַחֲס֥וֹת3xla·ḥă·sō·wṯRuth 2:12, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
הַחֹסִ֥ים2xha·ḥō·sîm2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 34:22
חָסִ֥יתִי2xḥā·sî·ṯîPsalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
אֶחְסֶ֑ה1x’eḥ·sehPsalms 57:1
אֶֽחֱסֶ֨ה1x’e·ḥĕ·sehPsalms 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 singular8xPsalms 7:1, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 16:1, Psalms 25:20
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural3x2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 18:30, Psalms 34:22
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct3xRuth 2:12, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular3x2 Samuel 22:3, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 57:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct3xPsalms 2:12, Psalms 5:11, Nahum 1:7
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural2xPsalms 31:19, Proverbs 30:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xDeuteronomy 32:37, Psalms 37:40
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xZephaniah 3:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Seeking physical refuge naturally extends to trusting or confiding in a protective authority
Strong'sH2620
Lexical occurrences37 versesWord forms1 form23 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 14:28-32Source Gloss
to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in
Extended definitionSource: 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 groups1Aligned forms23
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense23×
PerfectPs 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 57:211×
Imperfect2Sam 22:3 · Ps 18:3 · Ps 57:2 · Ps 61:5 · Isa 14:32 · Ps 34:9 · Ps 91:47×
Participle activeNah 1:7 · Ps 2:12 · Ps 5:12 · Ps 17:74×
Sequential imperfectJudg 9:151×
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.