Lexical Summary chob: Debt, obligation Original Word: חוֹב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance debtor From chuwb; debt -- debtor. see HEBREW chuwb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chub Definition debt NASB Translation debtor (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חוֺב noun [masculine] debt (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic  , חוֺבָא); — יָשִׁיב ׳חֲבֹלָתוֺ ח Ezekiel 18:7 his pledge as to indebtedness he restores, see Hi-Sm Ew§ 291 b Ges§ 132 R 5, b KöLgb. i. 497 f. and compare Dr§ 193 (but construction hard: Co שׁוֺב; dittograph from׳חבל BevDaniel 1. 10, compare Ezekiel 18:12; v: 16). Topical Lexicon Overview The term חוֹב underlines the concept of an unpaid obligation that must be honored. Though it surfaces only once in the Old Testament, its setting in Ezekiel 18:7 anchors it firmly to Israel’s covenant‐ethics: righteousness manifests in how one treats another’s property and need. Usage in Ezekiel 18:7 “He does not oppress another man, but restores to the debtor his pledge…” (Ezekiel 18:7). Here the prophet lists marks of a just life. The pledge—often a garment or tool—was taken as collateral for a loan. The righteous individual “restores” it, recognizing both the debtor’s dignity and God’s concern for the vulnerable. The single occurrence is therefore programmatic; it encapsulates an entire biblical ethic of mercy and justice. Legal and Social Background 1. Exodus 22:26 and Deuteronomy 24:10-13 require creditors to return a cloak before nightfall, so the poor are not left exposed. These statutes reveal that collateral was permissible, yet tightly regulated. The law guarded against turning a legitimate safeguard into an instrument of oppression. Prophetic Continuity Ezekiel echoes earlier prophets who condemned economic cruelty (Isaiah 58:6-7; Micah 2:1-2). He personalizes the issue: individual responsibility and repentance matter. The single verb “restores” links righteousness to concrete action, not mere sentiment. Theological Insights • God Himself is portrayed as the ultimate creditor who “forgives all your iniquity” (Psalm 103:3). Human dealings with debt must mirror divine forgiveness. Ministry Implications • Pastoral counseling: encourage restitution where financial or relational debts remain unresolved (Matthew 5:23-24). Related Concepts Pledge (Exodus 22:26); Surety (Proverbs 6:1-5); Jubilee release (Leviticus 25:10); Forgiveness of debts (Matthew 6:12; Luke 4:18). Christological Fulfillment By canceling “the record of debt” (Colossians 2:14), Jesus embodies the righteous pattern Ezekiel describes—restoring what was held against sinners and covering spiritual nakedness (Revelation 3:18). Believers, having received such grace, are called to extend it tangibly in economic and relational spheres. Forms and Transliterations חוֹב֙ חוב chOv ḥō·wḇ ḥōwḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 18:7 HEB: יוֹנֶ֔ה חֲבֹלָת֥וֹ חוֹב֙ יָשִׁ֔יב גְּזֵלָ֖ה NAS: anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, KJV: [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, INT: oppress his pledge to the debtor restores robbery |
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