חָשַׁב (cha.shav)
cha.shav
to devise: design
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 102 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chashav carries a rich range of meanings centered on mental activity, including to think, plan, esteem, calculate, and invent. Its core idea involves weaving thoughts together or fabricating something in the mind, which explains its use for both creative design and careful calculation. In the Old Testament, it appears frequently in books like Exodus, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, reflecting its importance in describing human intention and divine judgment.
A key distinction lies in how chashav is applied to different subjects. When used of humans, it often describes plotting or devising plans, sometimes with negative connotations, as seen when people scheme against the righteous. However, when applied to God, it takes on a positive sense of purposeful design and creative invention, highlighting His wisdom and skill in crafting the world and its details.
The word also plays a significant role in theological discussions about righteousness. In passages like Genesis 15:6, where Abram's faith is "counted" to him as righteousness, chashav conveys the idea of imputation or reckoning. This usage underscores the belief that God considers certain attitudes or actions as valid before Him, bridging the gap between human effort and divine acceptance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chashav invites us to consider how our minds shape our reality. In everyday life, we devise plans, calculate risks, and estimate values. This verb captures that mental activity, whether it is a craftsman designing a tabernacle or a person weighing the worth of an offering. It reminds us that what we hold in our hearts and minds has weight and consequence.
For believers, this word offers profound comfort through its theological use. When Scripture speaks of faith being counted as righteousness, it describes God’s gracious decision to credit what is not ours by merit. He looks past our shortcomings and sees the trust placed in Him. This is not a human achievement but a divine gift, where God’s perspective transforms our standing before Him.
Whether we are planning our days or reflecting on our spiritual state, chashav encourages us to align our thoughts with truth. It calls for intentionality in how we view ourselves and others, trusting that God’s design is both wise and redemptive. Let this understanding bring peace as you navigate your own designs and decisions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 102 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a skillful worker8×
- and/ he will calculate5×
- they are regarded4×
- [am] planning4×
- it will be reckoned3×
- it is reckoned3×
- he had planned3×
- you plan2×
- it will be considered2×
- he has purposed2×
- and/ it will be reckoned2×
- and/ he considered/ her2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֹשֵׁ֖ב4×
- חָשַׁ֖ב4×
- חֹשֵׁ֛ב3×
- וְ/חִשַּׁב\־3×
- תֵּחָשֵׁ֖ב2×
- נֶחְשָׁ֛ב2×
- נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ2×
- יֵחָשֵֽׁב\׃2×
- יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב2×
- חֹשֵֽׁב\׃2×
- חָשַׁ֥ב2×
- וַ/יַּחְשְׁבֶ֥/הָ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 15:6
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
This verse establishes the critical theological concept of imputation, where God credits faith to a person as righteousness.
-
Exodus 31:4
to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
Here the word describes divine empowerment for creative skill, showing God’s role in inspiring human craftsmanship.
-
Leviticus 7:18
If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, and it shall not be credited to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity.
This occurrence highlights the negative side of reckoning, where a sacrifice eaten improperly is not credited as accepted.
-
Leviticus 25:27
then let him reckon the years since its sale, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property.
The term is used in legal contexts to mean calculating or reckoning years for financial restitution and redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chashav mean in Genesis 15:6?
Is chashav always used for negative planning?
How is chashav different from other words for thinking?
Every Occurrence (102 verses across 26 books)
Genesis 4 verses
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 31:15Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.
Genesis 38:15When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
Genesis 50:20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.