What does חָשַׂךְ (chasak) mean in the Bible?
חָשַׂךְ (chasak): Restraint exercised with intention: withholding action (spare, refrain) or withholding judgment (punish, preserve).
Hebrew · H2820
חָשַׂךְ
To restrain or (reflex.) refrain ; by implication, to refuse , spare , preserve ; to observe
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
חָשַׂךְ H2820
Pronunciation chasak
What does חָשַׂךְ (chasak) mean in the Bible?
חָשַׂךְ (chasak): Restraint exercised with intention: withholding action (spare, refrain) or withholding judgment (punish, preserve).
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).
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 hold back 2× Isaiah 54:2, Isaiah 58:1
withheld 2× Genesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16
. . . 1× Isaiah 14:6
and restrain 1× Proverbs 24:11
another withholds 1× Proverbs 11:24
but he who restrains 1× Proverbs 10:19
had restrained them 1× 2 Samuel 18:16
has restrained 1× 1 Samuel 25:39
has spared 1× 2 Kings 5:20
have kept 1× Genesis 20:6
have punished us 1× Ezra 9:13
He has withheld 1× Genesis 39:9
He who spares 1× Proverbs 13:24
hesitate 1× Job 30:10
I hold in reserve 1× Job 38:23
Keep 1× Psalms 19:13
man is spared 1× Job 21:30
relieved 1× Job 16:6
restrain 1× Job 7:11
restrained 1× Jeremiah 14:10
restrains 1× Proverbs 17:27
restraint 1× Proverbs 21:26
spare 1× Psalms 78:50
to preserve 1× Job 33:18
will be darkened 1× Ezekiel 30:18
would bring relief 1× Job 16:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:6 וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ to have kept Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Genesis 22:12 חָשַׂ֛כְתָּ to withheld Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 22:16 חָשַׂ֖כְתָּ to withheld Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 39:9 חָשַׂ֤ךְ to He has withheld Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 25:39 חָשַׂ֣ךְ to has restrained Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:16 חָשַׂ֥ךְ to had restrained them Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2 Kings 5:20 חָשַׂ֣ךְ to has spared Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Ezra 9:13 חָשַׂ֤כְתָּֽ to have punished us Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Job 7:11 אֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְ to restrain Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Job 16:5 יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃ to would bring relief Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 20:6
Aligned rows 28
Books represented 11
Genesis 4 1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 1 Ezra 1 Job 7 Psalms 2 Proverbs 6 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 1
Source forms
חָשַׂ֣ךְ 4x ḥā·śaḵ 1 Samuel 25:39, 2 Kings 5:20, Psalms 78:50, Ezekiel 30:18
חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ 2x ḥō·w·śêḵ Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 17:27
יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃ 2x yaḥ·śōḵ Job 16:5, Proverbs 21:26
אֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְ 1x ’e·ḥĕ·śāḵ Job 7:11
וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ 1x wā·’eḥ·śōḵ Genesis 20:6
וְחוֹשֵׂ֥ךְ 1x wə·ḥō·w·śêḵ Proverbs 11:24
וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְ 1x wə·ḥō·śêḵ Proverbs 10:19
חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ 1x ḥă·śōḵ Psalms 19:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 7x Genesis 39:9, 1 Samuel 25:39, 2 Samuel 18:16, 2 Kings 5:20
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 3x Job 16:5, Job 33:18, Proverbs 21:26
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular 3x Genesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16, Ezra 9:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 11:24
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Job 16:6, Job 21:30
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Proverbs 24:11, Isaiah 58:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 17:27
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 2x Job 30:10, Jeremiah 14:10
Evidence Summary
RevelationWisdom
Hebrew word. Restraint exercised with intention: withholding action (spare, refrain) or withholding judgment (punish, preserve).
Strong's H2820
Lexical occurrences 27 verses Word forms 2 forms 24 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 10:19 Source Gloss
to restrain or (reflex.) refrain ; by implication, to refuse , spare , preserve ; to observe
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 24
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 22×
Perfect 1Sam 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 38:23 12×
Imperfect Job 16:5 · Job 33:18 · Prov 21:26 · Job 7:11 · Prov 24:11 5×
Participle active Prov 13:24 · Prov 17:27 2×
Jussive Isa 54:2 · Isa 58:1 2×
Sequential imperfect Ps 19:14 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 2×
Imperfect Job 16:6 · Job 21:30 2×
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
Revelation Wisdom
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