חָשִׂף
𐤇𐤔𐤐
châsiph
H2835 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A separated or removed group, especially a small group set apart from a larger body; used particularly for a small flock of animals that is distinct from the main herd or group. In extended use, may refer to any small company or remnant separated from a larger assembly, often emphasizing the idea of vulnerability or distinction due to separation.
Semantic Range
a separated group, a small flock parted from the main herd, a remnant or band set apart, a vulnerable company, those who are exposed or isolated
Root / Etymology
From the root חָשַׂף (ḥasaf), meaning 'to strip, to peel, to make bare.' The noun חָשִׂף is derived as a nominal form indicating 'one that is stripped away,' hence 'a group removed or separated.' The sense of 'small company' arises from the image of a smaller group taken or drawn away from the main body.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָשִׂף appears only in Ezekiel 34:12, where it refers to a 'little flock' (כְּעֵדֶר חָשִׂף), emphasizing a group separated from the rest and at risk of being lost or vulnerable. This usage is rare and poetic, likely shaped by pastoral imagery reflecting the experience of herds and flocks in ancient Israel. The root ח-ש-ף is more typically used for stripping or making bare (as in Micah 1:6), so its application to a separated group is metaphorical. Later translators and traditions sometimes rendered the term as 'Jewish remnant' or 'small band,' but the Hebrew context is neutral, without the religious or ethnic connotations 'remnant' acquired afterward. The nuance is on separation and exposure rather than merely size. There is no evidence the word carried technical religious meaning in the biblical period, although related images (such as the 'remnant of Israel') later took on such significance. Its usage is limited and does not overlap directly with other Hebrew words for 'remnant' (e.g., שְׁאָר or שְׁאֵרִית).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָשַׂף; properly, drawn off, i.e. separated; hence, a small company (as divided from the rest); little flock.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חשף (ḥ-ś-p̄) — to strip, to peel, to make bare
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2817 | חֲשׂוּפָא | Exposed-One |
| H2834 | חָשַׂף | he stripped bare |
| H4286 | מַחְשֹׂף | peeling-layer |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2835-01 |
חֲשִׂפֵ֣י | chasifey | HNcmpc |
little flocks | stripped-away bands of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2835-01 |
1 Kings 20:27 | חֲשִׂפֵ֣י | chasifey | HNcmpc |
little flocks | stripped-away bands of |