חֹ֫סֶן (cho.sen)
cho.sen
wealth
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun cho.sen refers to material wealth or treasure. It appears in just four verses across the Old Testament, primarily within the wisdom literature of Proverbs and the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah. The term denotes accumulated riches rather than daily income, pointing to stored resources that signify status and security.
Unlike words for temporary gain, cho.sen often carries a theological weight regarding its source and stability. In Proverbs 13:22, it describes the legacy a righteous person leaves for their children, linking wealth to faithful stewardship. Conversely, Jeremiah 45:5 uses it to contrast human ambition with divine sovereignty, reminding readers that such treasures are ultimately under God’s control rather than human possession.
Translators typically render cho.sen as "wealth" or "riches." Its limited usage allows each occurrence to stand out sharply against the backdrop of biblical wisdom. The text consistently treats this form of wealth not as an end in itself, but as a responsibility that reflects one’s relationship with God and community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
We often worry about what we can keep for ourselves, yet Scripture reminds us that true security does not come from stored resources alone. When Proverbs speaks of treasure in the house of the righteous, it points to a legacy built on faithfulness rather than mere accumulation. This perspective invites us to view our resources as tools for good, entrusted by God to benefit those who come after us.
At the same time, we must remember that no earthly wealth lasts forever. Jeremiah’s warning about kings and cities losing their treasures shows that human ambition cannot rival divine sovereignty. Placing our hope in material stability is fragile, but resting in the fear of the Lord offers a different kind of strength. As Isaiah suggests, wisdom and knowledge rooted in reverence for God are the only treasures that truly endure through every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wealth2×
- wealth of1×
- [the] wealth of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֹ֥סֶן1×
- חֹ֣סֶן1×
- חֹ֙סֶן֙1×
- חֹ֑סֶן1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 15:6
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
This verse contrasts the lasting security found in a righteous household with the trouble that accompanies ill-gotten gains, highlighting wealth as a byproduct of integrity.
-
Isaiah 33:6
There will be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of Yahweh is your treasure.
Here the word shifts from material hoarding to spiritual depth, identifying the fear of the Lord itself as the ultimate treasure that ensures stability.
-
Jeremiah 20:5
Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all its gains, and all its precious things, yes, I will give all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies. They will make them captives, take them, and carry them to Babylon.
The prophet illustrates the temporary nature of political and economic power when God surrenders these treasures to enemies, emphasizing divine control over human possessions.