Lexical Summary hon: Wealth, riches, substance, possessions Original Word: הוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance enough, for nothing, riches, substance, wealth From the same as huwn in the sense of 'own; wealth; by implication, enough -- enough, + for nought, riches, substance, wealth. see HEBREW huwn see HEBREW 'own NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hun Definition wealth, sufficiency NASB Translation cheaply* (1), enough (2), possession (1), riches (4), substance (1), wealth (17). Brown-Driver-Briggs הוֺן noun masculineProverbs 8:18, wealth, sufficiency (in poetry, almost wholly Wisdom Literature, especially Proverbs; compare I.אוֺן above) — absolute הוֺן Proverbs 1:13 15t. + Ezekiel 27:12,18 (where ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Co הוֺנֵךְ); construct Proverbs 6:31 3t.; suffix הוֺנָ֑ךָ Proverbs 3:9; הוֺנֵךְ Ezekiel 27:27 + Ezekiel 27:12; Ezekiel 27:18 Co; הוֺנוֺ Proverbs 28:8; plural suffix הוֺנַיִךְ Ezekiel 27:33 — 1 wealth Psalm 112:3 ("" עשֶׁר) Proverbs 8:18 ("" id.) Proverbs 1:13 ("" שָׁלָל) compare הוֺן עָשִׁיר Proverbs 10:15 (opposed to דַּלִּים), Proverbs 18:11; Proverbs 3:9 ("" רֵאשִׁית כָּלתְּֿבוּאָתָ֑ךָ) הוֺן בֵּיתוֺ Proverbs 6:31; Songs 8:7 בַּיִת וָהוֺן Proverbs 19:14; see Proverbs 19:4 (opposed to דָּל) Proverbs 28:8 (opposed to דַּלִּים); also Psalm 119:14; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 12:27; Proverbs 13:7,11; Proverbs 24:4; Proverbs 28:22 (opposed to חֶסֶר) Proverbs 29:3; Ezekiel 27:12,18,27,33. 2 with מָכַר + בְּ pretii, = high value, or price תִּעמכֹּר עַמְּךָ בְּלֹא הוֺן Psalm 44:13 — i.e. cheaply, = 'for no price at all' ("" מחיר). 3 sufficiency, enough! in exclamation Proverbs 30:15,16 (so also ᵐ5 ᵑ7, Aq Symm Theod ἁρκεῖ). Topical Lexicon Overview הוֹן (hon) points to that which one possesses in quantity—wealth, substance, riches, goods, sufficiency. Across its roughly twenty-six appearances it can denote tangible assets or the abstract security wealth seems to promise. Scripture consistently presents הוֹן as a servant that may be used for good or evil, never as an end in itself. Divine Ownership and Human Stewardship The first occurrence, Genesis 31:16, frames wealth as something God can “take” and “give.” Jacob’s wives say, “all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us.” From the outset, הוֹן is under God’s sovereign control; people are stewards, not ultimate owners (compare Proverbs 10:22). This foundation undergirds Israel’s economic laws, their sacrificial system, and later New-Covenant teaching on giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). Blessing Tied to Covenant Faithfulness In Deuteronomy 8 and 28 the promise of material abundance was contingent on obedience. Although other Hebrew words for wealth occur in those chapters, the theological principle applies to הוֹן: prosperity is a covenant blessing, never an autonomous right. When Psalms 112:3 declares, “Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever,” the parallelism shows that abiding righteousness, not wealth, is the lasting treasure. Wisdom Literature: Guidance for Everyday Life Proverbs contains the highest concentration of the term, setting out a theology of wealth that balances diligence, generosity, humility, and eternal perspective. • Wise acquisition: “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes dwindles, but whoever gathers little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11). Wisdom’s pedagogy is clear: הוֹן may enhance life, but it can never substitute for “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 15:16). Prophetic Warnings and Social Justice The prophets expose how accumulated הוֹן can harden hearts and distort society. • Isaiah 10:13-14 depicts Assyria boasting, “By the strength of my hand I have done this,” as it seizes others’ wealth. The LORD promises humbling judgment. Psalms: Transience Versus Trust Psalm 49 contrasts those “who trust in their wealth” with those who trust in God. Verse 6 warns, “None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” הוֹן cannot purchase life. Psalm 62:10 adds, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” The psalmists redirect confidence from possessions to the Redeemer. Historical Narratives: Case Studies • 2 Chronicles 32:27 records Hezekiah’s great wealth after divine deliverance. Yet 2 Chronicles 32:31 shows God testing him “to know what was in his heart,” illustrating that благ† blessing is also a proving ground. Ministry Implications: Discipleship and Stewardship 1. Teach stewardship: Since God grants and removes wealth (Genesis 31:16; Job 1:21), believers manage resources for His glory. Eschatological Perspective Zechariah 14:14 envisions end-time plunder—“the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected”—showing that God will ultimately redistribute הוֹן to establish righteous order. This foreshadows the New Heaven and New Earth, where true riches are shared in Christ. Christological Fulfillment Although הוֹן pertains to material assets, its ultimate resolution is found in Jesus Christ, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Earthly הוֹן is re-evaluated in light of the incomparable worth of knowing Him (Philippians 3:8). Key Takeaways • Wealth is a gift and test from God. Forms and Transliterations ה֑וֹן ה֖וֹן ה֗וֹן ה֣וֹן ה֤וֹן ה֥וֹן ה֭וֹן ה֭וֹנוֹ הֽוֹן׃ הוֹן־ הוֹנֵךְ֙ הוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ הון הון־ הון׃ הונו הוניך הונך וְה֣וֹן וְהוֹן־ וָ֭הוֹן והון והון־ לַה֗וֹן להון מֵהוֹנֶ֑ךָ מהונך hō·w·na·yiḵ hō·w·nêḵ hō·w·nōw hō·wn hō·wn- Hon hoNayich honeCh hono hōwn hōwn- hōwnayiḵ hōwnêḵ hōwnōw la·hō·wn laHon lahōwn mê·hō·w·ne·ḵā mehoNecha mêhōwneḵā Vahon vehon wā·hō·wn wāhōwn wə·hō·wn wə·hō·wn- wəhōwn wəhōwn-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 44:12 HEB: עַמְּךָ֥ בְלֹא־ ה֑וֹן וְלֹ֥א־ רִ֝בִּ֗יתָ KJV: thy people for nought, and dost not increase INT: your people for nought not profited Psalm 112:3 Psalm 119:14 Proverbs 1:13 Proverbs 3:9 Proverbs 6:31 Proverbs 8:18 Proverbs 10:15 Proverbs 11:4 Proverbs 12:27 Proverbs 13:7 Proverbs 13:11 Proverbs 18:11 Proverbs 19:4 Proverbs 19:14 Proverbs 24:4 Proverbs 28:8 Proverbs 28:22 Proverbs 29:3 Proverbs 30:15 Proverbs 30:16 Songs 8:7 Ezekiel 27:12 Ezekiel 27:18 Ezekiel 27:27 26 Occurrences |
    |