חֵ֫צֶן (che.tsen)
che.tsen
bosom
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun che.tsen refers specifically to the bosom or fold of a garment. It does not describe the human chest in an anatomical sense, but rather the space created by gathering the fabric of a robe against the body. This physical pocket served as a practical storage place for small items, allowing a person to carry valuables securely close to their heart.
Its single biblical occurrence appears in Psalm 129:7, where the imagery is quite literal and agricultural. The psalmist describes reapers not filling their hands with grain, nor those who bind sheaves with their che.tsen. Here, the word highlights the emptiness of the garment’s fold; there is no harvest to store because the field has been stripped bare by enemies.
This usage provides a concrete picture of loss and futility. The bosom of a garment was meant for holding what is precious, yet in this verse, it remains empty. The word anchors the metaphor in a tangible reality familiar to ancient readers: a worker returning from the field with nothing to show for their labor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for "bosom" in this verse describes the fold of a robe used as a pocket. In ancient times, people gathered their garments to carry small items close to their bodies. This was a practical way to keep valuables safe while working or traveling.
Psalm 129:7 uses this image to show total emptiness. The reaper has no grain in his hand, and the binder has nothing in his robe fold. It paints a picture of fields stripped bare by enemies. There is no harvest to store, only loss.
When life feels like that empty fold, remember that God sees your labor. Even when results seem gone, He values your faithfulness. You are held close to Him, not just in your clothes, but in His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ bosom/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/חִצְנ֥/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 129:7
with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.
This verse uses the garment fold to emphasize the complete lack of harvest due to enemy oppression.