Lexical Summary hotsen: Abundance, wealth, treasure Original Word: הֹצֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance chariot From an unused root meaning apparently to be sharp or strong; a weapon of war -- chariot. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps a weapon (of war) NASB Translation weapons (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs הֹ֫צֶן noun [masculine] derivation & meaning dubious; only Ezekiel 23:24 וּבָאוּ עָלַיִךְ הֹצֶן רֶכֶב וְגַלְגַּל; text probably in error: ᵐ5 מִצָּפוֺן so Co (compare Ezekiel 26:7); ᵑ6 ᵑ7 with arms; Hi הָצֵן, Infinitive Hiph`il of √ צנן, with rattling; Ew חֹצֶן (so Manuscripts) with shoulder as place of carrying weapon; Bö Sm חֲמוֺן multitude; DlBaer's Ezech. xi. gains like sense without emendation by comparing Assyrian êƒin (#NAME?) collect, gather, Flood Tabl.ii. 25 ff., but this very dubious. הַר see below הרר. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery הֹצֶן (Strong’s H2021) denotes a piece of defensive armor, most naturally understood as scale-armor or a breastplate composed of overlapping metal plates. The term evokes the picture of a warrior completely covered at the vital organs, a vivid image of security and strength. Old Testament Occurrence Ezekiel 23:24 is the sole biblical use: “They will array against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet”. Here הֹצֶן stands between two other kinds of shields, emphasizing a full spectrum of enemy protection—small hand-shields, large body-shields, and the plated cuirass covering the torso. Jerusalem’s foes are pictured as invincible, leaving the covenant city without earthly hope. Historical Background Scale armor was widely used in the Ancient Near East from the late second millennium B.C. Iron or bronze scales were sewn to a linen or leather backing, flexible yet resilient against arrows or sword blows. Assyrian reliefs from the period regularly depict troops so equipped. Ezekiel prophesied shortly after Jerusalem’s first deportation (597 B.C.), when Babylonian forces—famed for such armor—loomed over Judah. By naming each piece of gear, the prophet drives home the professional, terrifying completeness of the invaders. Theological Themes 1. Divine Judgment Executed through Nations God employs well-armed armies as instruments of His verdict on persistent unfaithfulness (compare Isaiah 10:5-6; Habakkuk 1:6-11). The invaders’ impressive armor underlines that judgment is inescapable when a people harden their hearts. 2. False Trust Exposed Judah’s alliances and idolatrous “lovers” (Ezekiel 23:5, 9, 21) cannot deliver her. Human strength, no matter how formidable, is powerless to shield from divine wrath (Psalm 33:16-17). 3. The Need for True Armor The image anticipates the believer’s spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-17). Where pagan nations rely on metal scales, God’s people are called to “put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14). Ezekiel’s grim picture therefore magnifies the grace of the gospel, which offers genuine, not merely outward, protection. Christological Foreshadowing The Messiah is portrayed as a warrior in righteousness: “He put on righteousness like a breastplate” (Isaiah 59:17). The single occurrence of הֹצֶן points indirectly to the perfect armor worn by Christ in His redemptive mission—an armor He now shares with His redeemed (Romans 13:14). Application for Ministry Today • Preaching: Ezekiel 23:24 warns against flirting with the world’s idols. Congregations must see that no earthly security, technological or military, can replace covenant faithfulness. Related Scriptures Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Ephesians 6:13-17; Psalm 33:16-19; Isaiah 10:5-6; Habakkuk 1:6-11. Forms and Transliterations הֹ֠צֶן הצן hō·ṣen hōṣen HotzenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 23:24 HEB: וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ NAS: against you with weapons, chariots KJV: And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, INT: will come against weapons chariots and wagons |
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