חַשְׁחוּ (chash.chut)
chash.chut
requirement
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chashchut refers to the specific items or resources required for a task. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 7:20, where it denotes the supplies needed to support the temple worship.
In this context, King Artaxerxes authorizes the withdrawal of funds from the royal treasury to cover these necessary expenses. The word highlights the practical provision required for religious duties, focusing on the tangible goods rather than abstract concepts.
Its singular usage underscores the unique historical moment when Persian imperial resources were directly allocated to sustain Jewish religious life in Jerusalem. This rare term captures a specific intersection of political authority and sacred obligation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we think about serving God, we often focus on our spiritual gifts or our willingness to obey. Yet this rare Hebrew word reminds us that practical provision is also part of faithful stewardship. In Ezra’s time, the king provided resources so the temple could function properly. This shows that meeting tangible needs is not separate from worship; it supports it.
You do not have to carry every burden alone. Sometimes help comes through unexpected channels, like a generous colleague or an available resource you hadn’t noticed before. Trust that God can arrange practical means to support your calling. Whether you are leading a ministry or simply trying to live faithfully in daily life, provision often arrives when we focus on the task at hand.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] thing[s] needed of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַשְׁחוּת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 7:20
Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
This verse explicitly links royal funding to the specific needs of God's house, showing how external resources enable sacred duties.