Lexical Summary chasuth: Refuge, shelter, protection Original Word: חָסוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance trust From chacah; confidence -- trust. see HEBREW chacah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chasah Definition refuge NASB Translation shelter (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָסוּת noun feminine refuge; — וְהֶחָסוּת בְּצֵל מִצְרַיִם Isaiah 30:3 ("" מָעוֺז מַּרְעֹה). Topical Lexicon Overview חָסוּת portrays the idea of shelter, protection, or refuge. Though the exact form appears only once in the Hebrew canon (Isaiah 30:3), it sits within a rich biblical tapestry in which the Lord alone is the true safe-haven for His covenant people. Context in Isaiah 30 Isaiah addresses Judah’s decision to seek deliverance from Assyrian pressure by forming an alliance with Egypt. In verse 3 the prophet warns, “Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and refuge in the shadow of Egypt a disgrace” (Isaiah 30:3). By employing חָסוּת for “protection,” Isaiah exposes the irony: what Judah perceives as security will prove a source of humiliation because it is sought apart from the Lord. The term therefore functions rhetorically to contrast human schemes with divine shelter. Historical Background Circa 713–701 BC, King Hezekiah’s court weighed political options as Assyria tightened its grip on the Near East. Egypt, though weakened, remained a symbolic powerhouse. Treaties typically promised military aid in exchange for tribute, sealing trust with religious oaths to the gods of both nations. Isaiah denounces this diplomacy as faithlessness, asserting that covenant safety cannot be outsourced to pagan powers. חָסוּת thus carries not merely political but deeply theological weight. Theological Themes 1. False versus True Refuge: Scripture juxtaposes human refuge (Isaiah 30:3; Job 31:24; Jeremiah 17:5) with divine refuge (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 91:2). חָסוּת crystallizes that contrast. Comparison with Related Terms While חָסוּת appears only once, its parent root חָסָה (“to take refuge”) saturates Scripture (e.g., Psalm 2:12; Ruth 2:12), and the cognate noun מַחְסֶה (“refuge,” Psalm 91:9) echoes the same concept. The singular use of חָסוּת may emphasize the uniqueness of Judah’s misplaced confidence, whereas the regular forms underscore the consistency of the Lord’s protective character. Biblical Theology of Refuge From the ark in Genesis 6–8 to the cities of refuge in Numbers 35 and the imprecatory cries of the Psalms, the narrative arc portrays God Himself as sanctuary. Earthly symbols—wings (Ruth 2:12), a high tower (Proverbs 18:10), a rock (Psalm 18:2)—all anticipate the ultimate refuge found in the Messiah (Isaiah 32:1–2; Matthew 23:37). Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies divine חָסוּת. He invites, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). At the cross He absorbs judgment so that believers might “have fled to take hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18). The temporary, disappointing refuge of Egypt prefigures every worldly substitute that Christ exposes and surpasses. Practical Ministry Implications • Pastoral Counseling: Isaiah 30:3 warns against substituting financial security, political power, or personal achievement for God’s protection. Summary חָסוּת surfaces only once, yet it powerfully encapsulates the peril of misdirected trust. Isaiah leverages the term to unmask Judah’s alliance with Egypt, contrasting fragile human shelter with the steadfast refuge of Yahweh. The theme resonates through redemptive history and finds its culmination in Jesus Christ, in whom every believer discovers unassailable protection. Forms and Transliterations וְהֶחָס֥וּת והחסות vehechaSut wə·he·ḥā·sūṯ wəheḥāsūṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 30:3 HEB: פַּרְעֹ֖ה לְבֹ֑שֶׁת וְהֶחָס֥וּת בְּצֵל־ מִצְרַ֖יִם NAS: will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow KJV: be your shame, and the trust in the shadow INT: of Pharaoh will be your shame and the shelter the shadow of Egypt 1 Occurrence |
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