חַשְׁחוּת
𐤇𐤔𐤇𐤅𐤕
chashchûwth
H2819 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of neediness, lack, or destitution; describes a condition characterized by a pressing lack of necessities, especially material or physical needs such as food, resources, or sustenance. Used in contexts where existential or dire need is present.
Semantic Range
state of NEED, destitution, lack, deprivation, necessity, exhaustion from want
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָשַׁח (ḥašach), 'to be in want, to lack,' though the precise formation is rare. The noun form חַשְׁחוּת (ḵhashkhût) arises as an abstract noun indicating the condition or state resulting from the verbal notion of lacking or being destitute. This noun is not based on a common root elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew and reflects a formation emphasizing the result or state of want.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חַשְׁחוּת appears once in the Hebrew Bible (Jeremiah 51:58), describing the 'weariness' or 'exhaustion' of peoples in forced labor—a condition of hardship marked by deprivation or an unsatisfied need. The word is rare but its root aligns it with other terms of lack or necessity (cf. מַחְסוֹר, 'want, lack', and poverty-related lexemes such as דָּל and אֶבְיוֹן). English translations vary ('weariness,' 'necessity'), sometimes missing the nuance of harsh deprivation or acute shortage. The term does not convey general tiredness but rather an imposed condition of deprivation resulting from overburden or insufficient provision. No evidence suggests a significant semantic shift over time, but the context in Jeremiah leans toward socio-economic destitution linked to imperial exploitation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a root corresponding to חֲשַׁח; necessity; be needful.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חשח (ḥ-š-ḥ) — to lack, to be in need, to diminish
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2819-01 |
חַשְׁחוּת֙ | chashechut | ANcfsc |
of the needs | state of destitution | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2819-01 |
Ezra 7:20 | חַשְׁחוּת֙ | chashechut | ANcfsc |
of the needs | state of destitution |