What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "lacking ; hence, without".
Hebrew · H2638
חָסֵר
Lacking ; hence, without
Reading a lexicon entry
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Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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חָסֵר H2638
What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "lacking ; hence, without".
Full entry for חָסֵר (H2638) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2638?
The BSB source-word alignment has 18 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include lacking (3), lacks (3), who lacks (3), but lack (1), for lack (1).
Where does חָסֵר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 21:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (13), Ecclesiastes (2), 1 Kings (1), 1 Samuel (1).
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 lacking 3× Proverbs 7:7, Proverbs 17:18, Proverbs 24:30
lacks 3× Proverbs 6:32, Proverbs 11:12, Proverbs 12:11
who lacks 3× Proverbs 9:4, Proverbs 9:16, Proverbs 28:16
but lack 1× Proverbs 12:9
for lack 1× Proverbs 10:21
in need of 1× 1 Samuel 21:15
is lacking 1× Ecclesiastes 10:3
lacked 1× 1 Kings 11:22
of him who lacks 1× Proverbs 10:13
or lacks 1× 2 Samuel 3:29
so that he lacks 1× Ecclesiastes 6:2
to one who lacks 1× Proverbs 15:21
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 21:15 חֲסַ֤ר to in need of Adjective - masculine singular construct 2 Samuel 3:29 וַחֲסַר־ to or lacks Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct 1 Kings 11:22 חָסֵר֙ to lacked Adjective - masculine singular Proverbs 6:32 חֲסַר־ to lacks Adjective - masculine singular construct Proverbs 7:7 חֲסַר־ to lacking Adjective - masculine singular construct Proverbs 9:4 חֲסַר־ to who lacks Adjective - masculine singular construct Proverbs 9:16 וַחֲסַר־ to who lacks Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct Proverbs 10:13 חֲסַר־ to of him who lacks Adjective - masculine singular construct Proverbs 10:21 בַּחֲסַר־ to for lack Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Proverbs 11:12 חֲסַר־ to lacks Adjective - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 21:15
Aligned rows 18
Books represented 5
1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 1 Proverbs 13 Ecclesiastes 2
Source forms
חֲסַר־ 8x ḥă·sar- Proverbs 6:32, Proverbs 7:7, Proverbs 9:4, Proverbs 10:13
וַחֲסַר־ 3x wa·ḥă·sar- 2 Samuel 3:29, Proverbs 9:16, Proverbs 12:9
בַּחֲסַר־ 1x ba·ḥă·sar- Proverbs 10:21
חֲסַ֤ר 1x ḥă·sar 1 Samuel 21:15
חֲסַ֣ר 1x ḥă·sar Proverbs 28:16
חָסֵר֙ 1x ḥā·sêr 1 Kings 11:22
חָסֵ֥ר 1x ḥā·sêr Ecclesiastes 6:2
חָסֵ֑ר 1x ḥā·sêr Ecclesiastes 10:3
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine singular construct 10x 1 Samuel 21:15, Proverbs 6:32, Proverbs 7:7, Proverbs 9:4
Adjective - masculine singular 3x 1 Kings 11:22, Ecclesiastes 6:2, Ecclesiastes 10:3
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct 3x 2 Samuel 3:29, Proverbs 9:16, Proverbs 12:9
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Proverbs 10:21
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular construct 1x Proverbs 15:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. lacking ; hence, without
Source Gloss
lacking ; hence, without
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
lacking; hence, without BDB: needy Usage: destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.
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 14
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Perfect 1Kgs 17:16 · Eccl 10:3 2×
Word Origins
חָסֵר is built from this root:
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