חָסֵר (cha.ser)
cha.ser
lacking
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ḥāser describes a state of being deficient or in want. It appears sixteen times in the Old Testament, with a notable concentration in Proverbs and the historical books of Samuel and Kings. The term captures the tangible reality of shortage, whether referring to physical resources, social standing, or spiritual completeness.
In Proverbs 10:4, for instance, it contrasts the lazy hand with the one that brings wealth, implying that diligence prevents the condition of ḥāser. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 12:3, a poor man’s lack of anything to offer highlights his vulnerable status before a king. The word does not merely suggest poverty as an abstract concept but points to a specific gap or missing element in one’s life.
This term underscores the biblical theme that human insufficiency often precedes divine provision. By naming the experience of lacking, Scripture invites reliance on God rather than self-sufficiency, framing need not as a failure but as a context for grace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ḥāser paints a picture of emptiness or deficiency. It describes a tangible gap in what we need, whether that is food, wisdom, or understanding. When Scripture uses this term, it names our human insufficiency honestly. This honesty is not meant to shame us but to invite us toward reliance on God rather than trusting in our own limited resources.
In Proverbs 12:9, the text contrasts a person who honors themselves but lacks bread with someone who has a servant and lives humbly. This suggests that self-sufficiency is an illusion. True stability comes from acknowledging our need for divine provision. When we face shortage, we are reminded that God’s grace meets us in our specific gaps.
This word invites us to see lack not as a failure but as a context for grace. It encourages a posture of dependence on the Lord. By naming what is missing, Scripture guides us toward the One who fills every void. We find peace when we stop striving for self-sufficiency and rest in God’s faithful care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lacking of4×
- and/ [one] lacking of3×
- [is] lacking of3×
- [one] lacking of2×
- to/ [one] lacking of1×
- lacking1×
- by/ lack of1×
- [is] lacking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲסַר\־8×
- וַ/חֲסַר\־3×
- לַ/חֲסַר\־1×
- חָסֵר֙1×
- חָסֵ֥ר1×
- חֲסַ֣ר1×
- בַּ/חֲסַר\־1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 11:22
Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you seek to go to your own country?” He answered, “Nothing, however only let me depart.”
This verse uses the word to describe a complete absence of grievance, showing that the term can apply to social standing and relational integrity rather than just material poverty.
-
Proverbs 12:9
Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
Here the word contrasts self-exaltation with practical need, illustrating that pride often leads to a lack of basic sustenance while humility provides security.
-
Ecclesiastes 6:2
a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
This occurrence highlights a spiritual paradox where a person lacks the ability to enjoy God's gifts, showing the word applies to inner fulfillment as well as external resources.