חַסִּר (chas.sir)
chas.sir
lacking
A:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chassir describes a state of being lacking or deficient. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 5:27, as part of the mysterious writing on the wall during Belshazzar’s feast. In this context, it translates to "weighed" and found wanting, indicating that the king’s reign was measured against a standard and found short.
This term highlights a sense of incompleteness or failure to meet a requirement. It is not merely about quantity but about quality and adequacy relative to a set norm. The word conveys that something essential is missing, leaving the subject in a state of insufficiency.
Its singular usage underscores the gravity of the moment in Daniel. The term serves as a stark judgment, marking the end of Belshazzar’s rule because his actions failed to meet divine expectations. This single occurrence provides a clear example of how biblical language can convey finality through the concept of deficiency.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chassir appears just once in Scripture, carrying a heavy weight of finality. In Daniel 5:27, it describes Belshazzar as 'weighed and found wanting.' This is not about minor imperfections but a fundamental lack of what was required. It reminds us that our worth does not rest on our own performance or the approval of those around us.
When we feel insufficient or like we are falling short, this word offers a stark reality check. We cannot meet God’s standard by our own strength. Yet, this deficiency points us toward grace. Where human effort fails, divine mercy steps in. The judgment on Belshazzar highlights the need for a righteousness that comes from outside ourselves.
Instead of striving to fill the gap alone, we can look to Christ, who fulfilled every requirement. His life was complete where ours is lacking. This truth frees us from the anxiety of self-justification and invites us to rest in what He has already accomplished for us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lacking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַסִּֽיר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:27
TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
This verse uses chassir to declare that Belshazzar’s reign was measured against divine standards and found deficient, leading to the end of his kingdom.