2837. chesheq
Lexical Summary
chesheq: Desire, delight, affection

Original Word: חֵשֶׁק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chesheq
Pronunciation: kheh-shek
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-shek)
KJV: desire, pleasure
NASB: all, longed
Word Origin: [from H2836 (חָשַׁק - To love)]

1. delight

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
desire, pleasure

From chashaq; delight -- desire, pleasure.

see HEBREW chashaq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chashaq
Definition
desire
NASB Translation
all (1), desired* (1), longed (1), pleased* (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
חֵ֫שֶׁק noun masculine desire = thing desired — construct חֵשֶׁק שְׁלֹמֹה 1 Kings 9:19 2Chronicles 8:6; 1 Kings 9:1; suffix נֶשֶׁף חִשְׁקִי Isaiah 21:4 the twilight of my pleasure .

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Theological Significance

The word חֵשֶׁק most often denotes an intense, purposeful desire that binds the heart to its object. It can describe anything from royal ambition to deep personal longing. Unlike fleeting wishes, חֵשֶׁק carries the nuance of attachment; it is desire that bends will, shapes plans, and manifests in concrete action. In Scripture, such desire is portrayed either as a vehicle through which God’s purposes are fulfilled or, in the prophetic context, as an arena where human frailty is exposed.

Occurrences in Narrative Context

In the historical books, חֵשֶׁק centers on King Solomon’s building agenda:

1 Kings 9:1 notes that Solomon “had achieved all that he had desired to do.” His חֵשֶׁק encompasses both the temple and the palace, reflecting a king whose personal aspirations aligned—for a season—with God’s covenant purposes.
1 Kings 9:19 and the parallel in 2 Chronicles 8:6 broaden the term to cover every city, fortress, and supply depot “whatever he desired to build.” Here חֵשֶׁק is linked to creativity, administration, and the projection of royal glory throughout the land.

In these passages, desire leads to tangible accomplishment. The narrative invites readers to see disciplined, God-directed חֵשֶׁק as a legitimate means of advancing the kingdom and blessing the nation.

Cultic and Royal Applications

Solomon’s use of חֵשֶׁק intersects worship and governance. By placing the construction of the temple first (1 Kings 9:1), the text subtly prioritizes spiritual obedience over political expansion. Desire anchored in the worship of the LORD becomes constructive; unchecked, it later contributes to Solomon’s over-extension and eventual decline (1 Kings 11). Thus חֵשֶׁק serves as a moral pivot: the same longing that builds the temple can, if misdirected, foster idolatry.

Prophetic Usage

Isaiah 21:4 offers a stark contrast:

“My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I longed for has been turned to horror for me.”

Here חֵשֶׁק is that twilight of hoped-for relief which evaporates under divine judgment. The prophet’s personal longing collides with the coming fall of Babylon, illustrating how human desire—even righteous yearning for rest—cannot stand when opposed to God’s sovereign timetable. Desire that once promised comfort now intensifies anguish, underscoring the fragility of hope divorced from divine assurance.

Pastoral and Ministry Insights

1. Desire must be examined, not suppressed. Scripture does not portray חֵשֶׁק as inherently good or evil; its moral quality rests on its object and motivation. Pastors can guide believers to channel their strongest ambitions toward pursuits that honor Christ.
2. Accomplishment does not validate desire. Solomon completed “all he desired,” yet later chapters reveal spiritual drift. Ministry success should never replace ongoing submission to Scripture.
3. Deferred or thwarted desire can serve redemptive ends. Isaiah’s shattered longing warns that even godly people may experience seasons where their deepest hopes are overturned. Such moments invite deeper trust in the character of God rather than the fulfillment of personal plans.
4. Corporate vision should spring from sanctified desire. Church building programs, mission initiatives, and community projects echo Solomon’s constructions; when birthed from collective חֵשֶׁק refined by prayer and the Word, they become instruments for displaying God’s glory.

Summary

חֵשֶׁק embodies the potent force of desire that moves individuals and nations. Properly oriented, it fuels worship, service, and creative endeavor. Misaligned, it exposes vulnerability and leads to disillusionment. Scripture therefore calls believers to cultivate desires that cling to the LORD, trusting Him to transform longing into lasting fruit for His kingdom.

Forms and Transliterations
חִשְׁקִ֔י חֵ֣שֶׁק חשק חשקי Cheshek chishKi ḥê·šeq ḥêšeq ḥiš·qî ḥišqî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 9:1
HEB: וְאֵת֙ כָּל־ חֵ֣שֶׁק שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: and all that Solomon desired to do,
KJV: and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased
INT: and the king's and all desire Solomon which

1 Kings 9:19
HEB: הַפָּרָשִׁ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ חֵ֣שֶׁק שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר
NAS: for his horsemen, and all that it pleased
KJV: for his horsemen, and that which Solomon
INT: and the cities his horsemen and all Solomon which

2 Chronicles 8:6
HEB: וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כָּל־ חֵ֣שֶׁק שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר
INT: his horsemen and all desire Solomon after

Isaiah 21:4
HEB: אֵ֚ת נֶ֣שֶׁף חִשְׁקִ֔י שָׂ֥ם לִ֖י
NAS: me; The twilight I longed for has been turned
KJV: me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned
INT: overwhelms the twilight longed has been turned trembling

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2837
4 Occurrences


ḥê·šeq — 3 Occ.
ḥiš·qî — 1 Occ.

2836b
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