What does חָשַׂךְ (chasak) mean in the Bible?
Ḥāśak names holding back or withholding, but restraint is evaluated by what is prevented or refused. Genesis 20:6 says God kept Abimelech from sinning against Him and did not permit him to touch Sarah.
Hebrew · H2820
חָשַׂךְ
Ḥāśak names holding back or withholding, but restraint is evaluated by what is prevented or refused. Genesis 20:6 says God kept Abimelech from sinning against Him and did not permit him to touch Sarah.
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חָשַׂךְH2820
Pronunciationchasak
What does חָשַׂךְ (chasak) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for חָשַׂךְ (H2820) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2820?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include hold back (2), withheld (2), . . . (1), and restrain (1), another withholds (1).
Where does חָשַׂךְ (chasak) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (7), Proverbs (6), Genesis (4), Isaiah (3).
What This Word Actually Means
Ḥāśak names holding back or withholding, but restraint is evaluated by what is prevented or refused. Genesis 20:6 says God kept Abimelech from sinning against Him and did not permit him to touch Sarah. The next command still requires returning Abraham's wife. Divine restraint in that encounter does not erase the obligation to correct the situation or make the king's incomplete knowledge its own permission.
Proverbs 10:19 commends restraining one's lips amid the danger of excessive words, whereas Proverbs 21:26 describes the righteous person giving without restraint. Isaiah 58:1 commands the prophetic voice not to hold back in declaring transgression, followed by exposure of fasting accompanied by oppression and violence. Teaching must therefore distinguish curbing harmful speech from withholding needed truth or generosity. The verb does not make silence always wise, unlimited speech always courageous or every refusal to give a prudent act.
Passage contextCanonical parallel
How the Bible Uses It
God's prevention of wrongdoing, prudent speech restraint, unrestrained generosity and the command to declare transgression show different objects and purposes. Holding back receives its moral evaluation from what is restrained or withheld in that passage.
- Gen.20.6
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
God states that He kept Abimelech from sinning and touching Sarah. The subsequent requirement to return her remains part of the encounter and its responsible response.
- Prov.10.19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Restrained lips are commended where multiplying words is associated with sin. This instruction concerns prudent speech rather than a universal command never to speak about wrongdoing.
- Prov.21.26
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
The righteous person gives without restraint in contrast with continual craving. The positive description prevents equating every withholding action with wise self-control.
- Isa.58.1
“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
The prophet is told not to hold back when declaring transgression. The following exposure of oppressed workers and violent fasting keeps that speech attached to concrete wrongdoing.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithold back2×Isaiah 54:2, Isaiah 58:1
withheld2×Genesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16
. . .1×Isaiah 14:6
and restrain1×Proverbs 24:11
another withholds1×Proverbs 11:24
but he who restrains1×Proverbs 10:19
had restrained them1×2 Samuel 18:16
has restrained1×1 Samuel 25:39
has spared1×2 Kings 5:20
have kept1×Genesis 20:6
have punished us1×Ezra 9:13
He has withheld1×Genesis 39:9
He who spares1×Proverbs 13:24
hesitate1×Job 30:10
I hold in reserve1×Job 38:23
Keep1×Psalms 19:13
man is spared1×Job 21:30
relieved1×Job 16:6
restrain1×Job 7:11
restrained1×Jeremiah 14:10
restrains1×Proverbs 17:27
restraint1×Proverbs 21:26
spare1×Psalms 78:50
to preserve1×Job 33:18
will be darkened1×Ezekiel 30:18
would bring relief1×Job 16:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:6וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְtohave keptConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularGenesis 22:12חָשַׂ֛כְתָּtowithheldVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 22:16חָשַׂ֖כְתָּtowithheldVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 39:9חָשַׂ֤ךְtoHe has withheldVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 25:39חָשַׂ֣ךְtohas restrainedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 18:16חָשַׂ֥ךְtohad restrained themVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Kings 5:20חָשַׂ֣ךְtohas sparedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularEzra 9:13חָשַׂ֤כְתָּֽtohave punished usVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularJob 7:11אֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְtorestrainVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularJob 16:5יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃towould bring reliefVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 20:6
Aligned rows28
Books represented11
Genesis41 Samuel12 Samuel12 Kings1Ezra1Job7Psalms2Proverbs6Isaiah3Jeremiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
חָשַׂ֣ךְ4xḥā·śaḵ1 Samuel 25:39, 2 Kings 5:20, Psalms 78:50, Ezekiel 30:18
חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ2xḥō·w·śêḵProverbs 13:24, Proverbs 17:27
יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃2xyaḥ·śōḵJob 16:5, Proverbs 21:26
אֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְ1x’e·ḥĕ·śāḵJob 7:11
וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ1xwā·’eḥ·śōḵGenesis 20:6
וְחוֹשֵׂ֥ךְ1xwə·ḥō·w·śêḵProverbs 11:24
וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְ1xwə·ḥō·śêḵProverbs 10:19
חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ1xḥă·śōḵPsalms 19:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular7xGenesis 39:9, 1 Samuel 25:39, 2 Samuel 18:16, 2 Kings 5:20
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xJob 16:5, Job 33:18, Proverbs 21:26
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular3xGenesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16, Ezra 9:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xProverbs 10:19, Proverbs 11:24
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJob 16:6, Job 21:30
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xProverbs 24:11, Isaiah 58:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xProverbs 13:24, Proverbs 17:27
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xJob 30:10, Jeremiah 14:10
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Help readers consider what silence protects and what it withholds, especially when a truthful report concerns another person's safety.
- Encourage evidence-bound speech and responsible giving without making endless availability or unrestricted expression the measure of faithfulness.
Avoid claiming...
- Ḥāśak does not mean every act of withholding is virtuous or that silence is always the faithful response.
- The verb does not authorize retaliation, invented accusations or refusal of care merely because someone calls the action restraint.
Evidence Summary
RevelationWisdom
Hebrew word. Restraint exercised with intention: withholding action (spare, refrain) or withholding judgment (punish, preserve).
Strong'sH2820
Lexical occurrences27 versesWord forms2 forms24 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 10:19Source Gloss
to restrain or (reflex.) refrain ; by implication, to refuse , spare , preserve ; to observe
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Restraint exercised with intention: withholding action (spare, refrain) or withholding judgment (punish, preserve).
to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe BDB: withhold Usage: assuage, × darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.
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 groups2Aligned forms24
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense22×
Perfect1Sam 25:39 · 2Kgs 5:20 · 2Sam 18:16 · Gen 39:9 · Isa 14:6 · Ps 78:50 · Ezra 9:13 · Gen 22:12 · Gen 22:16 · Jer 14:10 · Job 30:10 · Job 38:2312×
ImperfectJob 16:5 · Job 33:18 · Prov 21:26 · Job 7:11 · Prov 24:115×
Participle activeProv 13:24 · Prov 17:272×
JussiveIsa 54:2 · Isa 58:12×
Sequential imperfectPs 19:141×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
ImperfectJob 16:6 · Job 21:302×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to hold back or restrain
Showing 1 selected witness from 27 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָשַׂךְ is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The word highlights deliberate control over speech as an expression of wisdom.Proverbs 10:19
Canonical Themes
RevelationWisdom
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.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Genesis 20 presents restraint as God's prevention of a specific wrong, followed by a command that restores the disputed relationship. It does not make noncompletion of the wrong a reason to leave the situation unresolved. Proverbs offers another direct distinction: curbing excessive words is wise, while giving without restraint is commended in the context of righteous generosity. The same verb cannot supply one blanket verdict for every act of holding back.
Isaiah 58 commands speech that is not held back because religious practice has coexisted with oppression, contention and violence. That commission cannot be replaced by a generic instruction to stay quiet, yet it also does not authorize inventing accusations or humiliating a vulnerable person. Romans 12's prohibition on personal vengeance alongside care for enemies provides a Christian comparison for restraint joined to active good. The reader should ask what conduct is prevented, whose need is met and what truth must be spoken before praising either silence or forceful speech.
Anchor passage
Prov.10.19
Doctrinal connections
- Genesis 20:4-7 joins God's restraint of Abimelech with the command to return Abraham's wife.
- Proverbs 10:19-21 commends restrained lips and contrasts useful righteous speech with destructive folly.
- Proverbs 21:25-26 contrasts the slacker's craving with the righteous person's giving without restraint.
- Isaiah 58:1-4 requires declared transgression and exposes fasting that accompanies worker oppression and violent conflict.
- Romans 12:17-19 joins peace-seeking and refusal of personal vengeance with entrusting judgment to God.
- Romans 12:20-21 describes active care for an enemy as the way to overcome evil with good.
Restrain, withhold and hold back express a relationship to an action or object. Positive and negative instructions depend on that complement: curbing words, not withholding gifts and not holding back declared transgression cannot be treated as one fixed moral sense.
From Old to New Testament
Romans 12:17-21 combines refraining from revenge with positive care for an enemy. It helps readers see that restraint can accompany active generosity rather than passive withdrawal. The comparison does not make ḥāśak a direct Greek equivalent or require silence when a passage calls for truthful exposure of wrongdoing.
Passage contextCanonical parallel