2633. chosen
Lexical Summary
bachir: Chosen, elect

Original Word: חֹסֶן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chocen
Pronunciation: baw-kheer'
Phonetic Spelling: (kho'-sen)
KJV: riches, strength, treasure
NASB: wealth, riches, treasure
Word Origin: [from H2630 (חָסַן - hoarded)]

1. wealth

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
riches, strength, treasure

From chacan; wealth -- riches, strength, treasure.

see HEBREW chacan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
wealth, treasure
NASB Translation
riches (1), treasure (1), wealth (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
חֹ֫סֶן noun masculineProverbs 15:6 wealth, treasure (on relation to √ meaning compare חַיִל) — ׳ח absolute Proverbs 15:6 2t.; construct Isaiah 33:6; Jeremiah 20:5; — wealth, treasure, of individuals Proverbs 15:6 (רַב ׳ח, opposed to נֶעְכָּ֑רֶת), Proverbs 27:24 ("" נֵזֶר), Ezekiel 22:25 ("" יְקָר); of city הָעִיר הַזּאֹת ׳ח Jeremiah 20:5 ("" יְגִיעַ, יְקָר, אוֺצָרוֺת); in transf. sense יְשׁוּעֹת ׳ח, wealth (or abundance VB) of salvations, הִיא אוֺצָרוֺ ׳חָכְמַת וָדָ֑עַת יִרְאַת י ׳יְשׁ ׳ח Isaiah 33:6 and stability of thy times shall be abundance of salvations (help, deliverances), etc.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Semantic Range

חֹסֶן (chosén) denotes tangible “wealth,” “treasure,” or “store of riches,” and by extension any solid resource that confers security or advantage. The word consistently points to what people deem valuable enough to guard, accumulate, or rely upon.

Occurrences and Contexts

1. Proverbs 15:6 contrasts the abiding treasure of the righteous with the fleeting gain of the wicked: “In the house of the righteous there is great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.” The verse elevates moral integrity above material accumulation, implying that true riches flow from covenant faithfulness.
2. Proverbs 27:24 warns against trusting dynastic or economic stability: “For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.” חֹסֶן functions as a reminder that no earthly store is permanent.
3. Isaiah 33:6 depicts the LORD Himself as Zion’s impregnable wealth: “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.” Here חֹסֶן transcends silver and gold, encompassing the spiritual resources God supplies to sustain His people.
4. Jeremiah 20:5 foretells Babylon’s confiscation of Judah’s valuables: “I will deliver all the wealth of this city… and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—into the hands of their enemies.” חֹסֶן underscores the devastating totality of judgment upon unrepentant Jerusalem.
5. Ezekiel 22:25 indicts corrupt leaders who “devour lives” and “seize treasure and precious things,” revealing how covetous exploitation perverts covenant community.

Theological Significance

• Impermanence of earthly security: Repeated warnings in wisdom literature and prophetic oracles demonstrate that material assets cannot shield against divine scrutiny (Proverbs 27:24; Ezekiel 22:25).
• God as ultimate treasure: Isaiah 33:6 reorients value systems, portraying the Lord’s salvation and wisdom as the only wealth that endures.
• Covenant ethics and possessions: The juxtaposition of righteous versus wicked handling of חֹסֶן (Proverbs 15:6) shows that possessions are evaluated by moral posture, not quantity.
• Judgment and exile: Jeremiah employs חֹסֶן to highlight the irony that what Judah prized became the very spoil handed over to enemies, fulfilling covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:47-52).

Historical Notes

During monarchic and exilic periods, treasuries stocked with metals, gems, and temple articles symbolized national strength. Invading empires routinely stripped these assets (2 Kings 24:13). Thus prophetic references to חֹסֶן carried both economic and political weight, signaling the collapse of national autonomy when God’s protection was forfeited.

Practical Ministry Application

• Stewardship: Believers are exhorted to view resources as entrusted assets for righteous purposes rather than as guarantees of safety.
• Discipleship: Teaching on Isaiah 33:6 encourages anchoring personal and congregational security in the fear of the Lord.
• Social justice: Ezekiel’s denunciation of leaders who seize treasure challenges modern ministries to confront economic exploitation within society and church structures.
• Pastoral care: Proverbs 15:6 offers comfort to the faithful poor: righteousness already fills their “house” with God-given treasure not measured by net worth.

Connections to New Testament Teaching

The motif of imperishable treasure finds its climax in Jesus’ command: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). Paul likewise speaks of the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8), echoing Isaiah’s vision of the Lord as Zion’s חֹסֶן. The gospel calls believers to exchange perishable riches for the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Summary

חֹסֶן spotlights the tension between visible wealth and lasting security. Across wisdom sayings and prophetic warnings, Scripture urges God’s people to treat material treasure as provisional and to esteem the Lord’s salvation, wisdom, and fear as their true, enduring wealth.

Forms and Transliterations
חֹ֑סֶן חֹ֙סֶן֙ חֹ֣סֶן חֹ֤סֶן חֹ֥סֶן חסן Chosen ḥō·sen ḥōsen
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Proverbs 15:6
HEB: בֵּ֣ית צַ֭דִּיק חֹ֣סֶן רָ֑ב וּבִתְבוּאַ֖ת
NAS: Great wealth is [in] the house
KJV: [is] much treasure: but in the revenues
INT: is the house of the righteous wealth Great the income

Proverbs 27:24
HEB: לֹ֣א לְעוֹלָ֣ם חֹ֑סֶן וְאִם־ נֵ֝֗זֶר
NAS: For riches are not forever, Nor
KJV: For riches [are] not for ever:
INT: are not forever riches Nor A crown

Isaiah 33:6
HEB: אֱמוּנַ֣ת עִתֶּ֔יךָ חֹ֥סֶן יְשׁוּעֹ֖ת חָכְמַ֣ת
NAS: of your times, A wealth of salvation,
KJV: of thy times, [and] strength of salvation:
INT: will be the stability of your times A wealth of salvation wisdom

Jeremiah 20:5
HEB: אֶת־ כָּל־ חֹ֙סֶן֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את
NAS: over all the wealth of this
KJV: Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city,
INT: give all the wealth city likewise

Ezekiel 22:25
HEB: נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָכָ֗לוּ חֹ֤סֶן וִיקָר֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ
NAS: they have taken treasure and precious things;
KJV: they have taken the treasure and precious things;
INT: lives have devoured treasure and precious have taken

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2633
5 Occurrences


ḥō·sen — 5 Occ.

2632
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