חֲצִי (che.tsi)
che.tsi
half
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 90 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chetsi simply means "half," referring to a division of anything into two equal parts. It appears frequently in the Old Testament, particularly in legal and historical texts like Exodus and Joshua, where it describes tangible shares of land, portions of offerings, or segments of time. For instance, the tabernacle curtains were measured by the half-cubit (Exodus 26:16), and the tribes east of the Jordan received their inheritance "half" alongside those west of the river (Joshua 13:31).
Beyond simple arithmetic, chetsi can denote the middle or midst of something. This spatial usage appears when describing the depth of a pool or the center of a city. In Judges 16:3, Samson climbs to the top of the gate of Gaza, which stands at the "middle" (chetsi) of the gate, highlighting its structural centrality rather than just a fractional quantity.
The word derives from a root meaning "to divide" or "to split." This etymology underscores its fundamental function: marking a clear separation. While most translations render it straightforwardly as "half," context sometimes requires "midnight" (as in Exodus 12:29) or "part." The consistency of this term helps readers track precise distributions of property and resources throughout the narrative of Israel’s settlement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chetsi reminds us that God’s provision is often precise and shared. In the construction of the tabernacle, every board and curtain was measured with exact dimensions, including parts described as a cubit and a half. This attention to detail shows that even the smallest pieces matter in building a place for God’s presence. It suggests that our own lives, no matter how small they seem, are part of a larger, carefully designed plan.
We also see this word used when describing the division of land among the tribes of Israel. Half of one tribe received their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan, yet they remained fully connected to the rest of the people. This reflects a beautiful truth about community: we are distinct individuals, but we share in the same blessings and responsibilities. God’s justice ensures that everyone receives what is needed.
Even in moments of judgment, such as the plague in Egypt occurring at midnight, this term marks a specific turning point. It reminds us that time itself is under God’s control. Whether in times of celebration or sorrow, we can trust that He sees every detail and acts with purpose. This brings comfort to our hearts, knowing that nothing is left to chance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 90 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] half of28×
- <the> half of19×
- and/ a half13×
- in/ [the] middle of5×
- and/ to/ [the] half of5×
- [the] half of5×
- to/ [the] half of4×
- half of/ it4×
- half2×
- for/ [the] half of2×
- and/ from/ [the] half of2×
- [the] middle of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲצִ֥י10×
- וַ/חֲצִ֣י8×
- חֲצִ֣י6×
- וָ/חֵ֖צִי6×
- וַ/חֲצִ֥י6×
- חֲצִ֖י5×
- וָ/חֵ֙צִי֙4×
- וְ/לַ/חֲצִ֖י4×
- בַּ/חֲצִ֣י4×
- חֶצְי/וֹ֙3×
- וַ/חֲצִי֙3×
- וַ/חֲצִ֨י3×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 24:6
Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
This verse highlights the solemnity of the covenant ceremony, where Moses divides the blood to consecrate both the altar and the people.
-
Numbers 32:33
Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan; the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.
Here the term specifies the unique portion given to half of Manasseh, showing how inheritance was distributed across tribal lines.
-
Exodus 12:29
At midnight, Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.
The use of this word for midnight marks the precise moment of judgment, emphasizing God's sovereign timing in delivering Israel.
-
Exodus 25:10
“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
The specific dimensions of the ark, including its half-cubit measurements, reflect the holiness and order required for God's dwelling place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word chetsi mean?
Why is chetsi used in Exodus 12:29?
How does chetsi relate to the tribes of Israel?
Every Occurrence (90 verses across 17 books)
Exodus 13 verses
At midnight, Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne…
Exodus 24:6Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
Exodus 25:10“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a…
Exodus 25:17You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
Exodus 25:23“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a…
Exodus 26:12The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of…
Exodus 26:16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
Exodus 27:5You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.
Exodus 36:21Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board.
Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a…
Exodus 37:6He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width.
Exodus 37:10He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and…
Exodus 38:4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.