Lexical Summary machatsith: Half, half part Original Word: מַחֲצִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance half so much, midday From chatsah; a halving or the middle -- half (so much), mid(-day). see HEBREW chatsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chatsah Definition half, middle NASB Translation half (11), half as much (1), half-tribe* (3), midday* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחֲצִית noun feminine half, middle — construct מַחֲצִית Exodus 30:13 (twice in verse) + 8 t.; מַחֲצִת Numbers 31:30,47; suffix מַחֲצִיתוֺ Exodus 30:23, מַחֲצִיתָהּ Leviticus 6:13 (twice in verse), מַחֲצִיתָם Numbers 31:29 — 1 half of a shekel Exodus 30:13 (twice in verse); Exodus 30:15 compare Exodus 30:23; Exodus 38:26; the flour for offering Leviticus 6:13 (twice in verse), of spoils Numbers 31:29,30,42,47; of tribe Joshua 21:25 (all P), 1 Chronicles 6:46; 1 Chronicles 6:55; of chariots 1 Kings 16:9. 2 middle היּוֺם ׳מ = midday, noon Nehemiah 8:3 (compare midnight, חָצוֺת, חֲצִי 2). חצן (√ of following; meaning dubious; denominative seem to be Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope of Usage The term denotes an exact half or half-portion. Scripture employs it in the realms of money, weight, time, military spoils, and tribal inheritance—underscoring the precision, equity, and covenantal order that mark the LORD’s dealings with His people. Half-Shekel Atonement Contribution Exodus 30:13–16 and 38:26 establish the half-shekel as the fixed amount every male Israelite twenty years and older must bring “as an offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives.” The sum was deliberately small enough for the poor yet not so small that the rich could augment it: “The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel” (Exodus 30:15). By ordaining a uniform ransom, the LORD affirmed both the equal worth of each soul before Him and the insufficiency of earthly wealth to purchase redemption. Centuries later, this same sum emerges as the Temple tax that Jesus willingly paid (Matthew 17:24–27), highlighting the continuity of the atonement theme and pointing to the greater ransom He would offer at the cross. Standard of Measurement in Worship Exodus 30:23 applies the concept to weight: the anointing oil required “five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh… and two hundred fifty shekels of fragrant cinnamon,” literally “half” of five hundred. The identical weight safeguarded the recipe from human alteration, preserving the sanctity of the priestly anointing and typifying the perfection of the coming Anointed One. Daily Sacrificial Rhythm In Leviticus 6:20 the grain offering for the high priest’s ordination is to be baked “half in the morning and half in the evening.” The symmetrical division kept the priest mindful that every portion of the day belongs to the LORD. It also offered Israel a visual pattern of continual, whole-day consecration—a foreshadowing of the perpetual intercession of Christ, our great High Priest. Equitable Division of War Spoils Numbers 31 employs the word eight times (verses 27, 29–30, 42, 47) to describe the precise division of Midian’s plunder—half to the warriors, half to the rest of Israel, with dedicated portions for Eleazar the priest and the Levites. This arrangement prevented greed, honored those who fought, and ensured that worship remained central even in matters of national defense and economic gain. Allocation within the Half-Tribe of Manasseh Joshua 21:25; 1 Chronicles 6:61, 70 detail cities taken “from the half-tribe of Manasseh” for the Levites. By designating these towns from only part of the tribe, the LORD balanced inheritance between Transjordan and Cisjordan clans while embedding priestly ministry throughout the land. A Royal Administration and the Language of Governance 1 Kings 16:9 notes that Zimri was “commander of half the chariots” of King Elah. Even in the northern kingdom’s turbulent politics, Scripture’s precise language testifies that authority and responsibility are ultimately measured under God’s gaze. Half the Day in Public Reading of the Law Nehemiah 8:3 records Ezra’s public reading “from daybreak until noon,” literally “until half of the day.” The restored community responded with attentive ears and worshipful hearts, demonstrating that revival springs from extended, shared exposure to the Word. Theological Reflections 1. Equality before God: The half-shekel demonstrates that salvation cannot be bought; every person stands on the same footing at the place of atonement. Ministry Implications Today • Congregational giving should reflect the principle of equal sacrifice rather than equal amounts, reminding believers that the value lies in obedience, not in size. Thus, מַחֲצִית, though merely “half,” magnifies God’s unwavering precision and grace, directing hearts to the perfect wholeness secured in His Son. Forms and Transliterations וּמִֽמַּחֲצִ֖ית וּמִֽמַּחֲצִית֙ וּמִמַּחֲצִ֨ת וּמַחֲצִיתָ֖הּ ומחציתה וממחצית וממחצת מִֽ֠מַּחֲצִית מִֽמַּחֲצִ֖ית מִמַּֽחֲצִיתָ֖ם מִמַּחֲצִ֣ת מַחֲצִ֣ית מַחֲצִ֥ית מַחֲצִית֖וֹ מַחֲצִיתָ֣הּ מחצית מחציתה מחציתו ממחצית ממחציתם ממחצת ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯāh ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯōw ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ machaTzit machatziTah machatziTo maḥăṣîṯ maḥăṣîṯāh maḥăṣîṯōw mim·ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯām mim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯ mim·ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ mimachaTzit mimachatziTam mimmaḥăṣiṯ mimmaḥăṣîṯ mimmaḥăṣîṯām ū·ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯāh ū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯ ū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ umachatziTah ūmaḥăṣîṯāh umimachaTzit ūmimmaḥăṣiṯ ūmimmaḥăṣîṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 30:13 HEB: עַל־ הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים מַחֲצִ֥ית הַשֶּׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל NAS: shall give: half a shekel KJV: them that are numbered, half a shekel INT: among is numbered half A shekel to the shekel Exodus 30:13 Exodus 30:15 Exodus 30:23 Exodus 38:26 Leviticus 6:20 Leviticus 6:20 Numbers 31:29 Numbers 31:30 Numbers 31:42 Numbers 31:47 Joshua 21:25 1 Kings 16:9 1 Chronicles 6:61 1 Chronicles 6:70 Nehemiah 8:3 16 Occurrences |
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, Ethiopic 
carry in the arms or bosom, rear, foster; perhaps also Assyrian êƒênu, bring together, also drink or draw in sweet odours Flood Tabletiii, 49 Hpt in KAT2Gloss i).