חַסְפַּס (chas.pas)
chas.pas
to peel
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chaspas appears only once in the Old Testament, in Exodus 16:14 as a description of manna. In its sole occurrence, it is used in the passive participle form to describe the substance’s physical texture. The root meaning relates to peeling or flaking off, suggesting that the manna had a crusty or layered exterior.
Lexical sources consistently translate this term as "scale-like" or "flake-like." This specific imagery helps readers visualize the manna not as a smooth paste, but as something resembling thin scales of frost or flakes that could be gathered. The description emphasizes the tangible, natural quality of the food provided in the wilderness.
Because this is a hapax legomenon—a word found only once in Scripture—its meaning is defined entirely by this context. The term serves to ground the miraculous provision in concrete sensory detail, helping ancient and modern readers alike picture the manna as something delicate and layered, much like frost on the ground.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chaspas appears only once in Scripture, describing the manna that sustained Israel in the wilderness. It suggests a texture like thin flakes or scales, similar to frost settling on the ground. This detail reminds us that God’s provision often meets us in simple, tangible ways.
When we face seasons of uncertainty, it is easy to look for dramatic signs. Yet here, the divine gift arrives quietly, layered and delicate. We can trust that even the smallest details of our daily bread are held by a faithful Creator who knows our needs before we ask.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- flake-like1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְחֻסְפָּ֔ס1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 16:14
When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground.
This verse uses the term to describe the manna's flaky, frost-like appearance, grounding the miracle in a specific physical texture.