2836. chashaq
Lexical Summary
chashaq: To love, to be attached to, to delight in, to cling

Original Word: חָשַׁק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chashaq
Pronunciation: khaw-shak'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-shak')
KJV: have a delight, (have a ) desire, fillet, long, set (in) love
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to cling, i.e. join, (figuratively) to love, delight in
2. elliptically (or by interchangeable for H2820) to deliver

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
have a delight, have a desire, fillet, long, set in love

A primitive root; to cling, i.e. Join, (figuratively) to love, delight in; elliptically (or by interchangeable for chasak) to deliver -- have a delight, (have a) desire, fillet, long, set (in) love.

see HEBREW chasak

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. חָשַׁק verb be attached to, love (Late Hebrew press together, desire (rare); Aramaic חֲשַׁק bind, saddle (an ass)) —

Qal Perfect ׳ח Deuteronomy 7:7 4t.; חָֽשְׁקָה Genesis 34:8; חָשַׁקְתָּ Isaiah 38:17 (but see below); וְחָֽשַׁקְתָּ֫ Deuteronomy 21:11; — be attached to, only figurative = love, a woman followed by בְּ Genesis 34:8 (P) Deuteronomy 21:11; elsewhere of ׳יs; love for Israel Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 10:15, and of love to ׳י Psalm 91:14; followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verb+ לְ and infinitive ׳כלחֵֿשֶׁק שְׁלֹמה אשׁר ח לִבְנוֺת 1 Kings 9:19 2Chronicles 8:6; חָשַׁקְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִשַּׁחַת Isaiah 38:17 literally thou hast loved my soul out of the pit, i.e. lovingly delivered it; but read חָשַׂכְתָּ thou hast held back, kept, from ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Lo Ew Che Di, or חֲשׂךְ hold back (Imperative), so Du.

II. [חשׁק] verb denominative only

Pi`el furnish with fillets or rings, and

Pu`al passive;

Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular חִשַּׁק Exodus 38:28 (P), subject Bezaleel.

Pu`al Participle מְחֻשָּׁקִים כֶּסֶף Exodus 27:17; Exodus 38:17 finished with silver fillets, in agreement with הָעַמּוּדִים (both P).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

חָשַׁק portrays a powerful bond of attachment, whether emotional, covenantal, or aesthetic. Scripture consistently presents the verb as a movement of the heart that binds one to another person, to a chosen object, or—most profoundly—to the LORD Himself. Its occurrences sketch a panorama of human affection, divine election, and even artistic craftsmanship, each instance illustrating that true “delight” or “desire” culminates in purposeful commitment.

Human Affection and Desire

Genesis 34:8 records Shechem’s plea to Jacob, “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter,” a passionate attachment that drove the entire narrative of Dinah’s violation and the ensuing conflict.
Deuteronomy 21:11 addresses an Israelite soldier who “desires her and wants to take her as your wife.” The Mosaic legislation tempers raw attraction with protective stipulations, showing that desire must be subordinated to righteousness and compassion.

In both passages חָשַׁק highlights the intensity of human longing, yet Scripture surrounds that longing with moral boundaries, reminding readers that affection must serve holiness rather than self-indulgence.

Divine Attachment and Electing Love

Deuteronomy 7:7 clarifies Israel’s election: “The LORD did not set His affection on you or choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.”
Deuteronomy 10:15 echoes the same theme: “Yet the LORD set His affection on your fathers and loved them, and He chose their descendants after them.”
Psalm 91:14 assures the covenant-keeper, “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.”
Isaiah 38:17 celebrates Hezekiah’s deliverance: “Surely for my own wellbeing I had great bitterness; but You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of destruction.”

In these texts חָשַׁק reveals the gracious initiative of God. Israel’s security rests not in her merit but in Yahweh’s sovereign delight. The verb also describes the believer’s corresponding attachment to God, a reciprocal love rewarded with protection and salvation (Psalm 91:14). Together they depict covenant as mutual yet asymmetrical—originating in God’s free choice and answered by human trust.

Artistic and Architectural Delight

Exodus 27:17 and 38:17, 28 employ חָשַׁק for the ornamental hooks and decorative bands of the tabernacle courtyard. The craftsmanship was not merely functional; it expressed the LORD’s aesthetic “desire” for beauty in worship.
1 Kings 9:19 and 2 Chronicles 8:6 speak of Solomon’s construction of “whatever Solomon desired to build.” The king’s expansive projects, though worldly grand, still trace their impulse to a God-given capacity to envision and delight in order, symmetry, and splendor.

These occurrences link human creativity to divine pleasure. Properly directed, artistic aspiration becomes ministry—adorning God’s dwelling and advancing His kingdom’s administration.

Redemptive Thread and Ministry Significance

1. Covenant Security: Believers rest in a God who binds Himself to them with unshakeable affection. Assurance flows not from personal strength but from the LORD’s steadfast delight (Deuteronomy 7:7; Isaiah 38:17).
2. Responsive Love: Psalm 91:14 calls for a reciprocating attachment—clinging to God’s name in faith, worship, and obedience. Ministry that fuels such attachment strengthens the church against fear and apostasy.
3. Sanctified Desire: Whether romantic (Genesis 34:8), aesthetic (Exodus 38:28), or visionary (1 Kings 9:19), human longing must be disciplined by God’s commands. The soldier of Deuteronomy 21:11 and the builder Solomon both illustrate the need to move from mere desire to covenantal fidelity.
4. Worship Beauty: The tabernacle hooks crafted “as the LORD commanded Moses” show that excellence in art and architecture serves holiness. Congregations today reflect that principle as they steward spaces, music, and liturgy to magnify God’s worth.

Pastoral Application

• Teach election as the fruit of divine affection, engendering humility rather than presumption.
• Cultivate a congregation that “sets its heart” on the LORD in prayer, Scripture meditation, and corporate praise.
• Guide relationships with the ethic that desire must honor God and protect the vulnerable.
• Encourage artisans and planners to pursue beauty for the sake of worship rather than vanity.

Summary

חָשַׁק unites the themes of love, choice, and delight across Scripture. Whether describing a young man’s longing, the LORD’s electing grace, or the craftsman’s care for sanctuary ornamentation, the term reminds God’s people that true attachment always pulls them closer to His heart and purposes.

Forms and Transliterations
וְחִשַּׁ֥ק וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ וחשק וחשקת חָ֭שַׁק חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ חָשַׁ֥ק חָשַׁ֧ק חָשַׁק֙ חשק חשקה חשקת מְחֻשָּׁקִ֣ים מחשקים chaShak chaShakta chasheKah ḥā·šaq ḥā·šaq·tā ḥā·šə·qāh ḥāšaq ḥāšaqtā ḥāšəqāh mə·ḥuš·šā·qîm mechushshaKim məḥuššāqîm vechashakTa vechishShak wə·ḥā·šaq·tā wə·ḥiš·šaq wəḥāšaqtā wəḥiššaq
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 34:8
HEB: שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנִ֗י חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה נַפְשׁוֹ֙ בְּבִתְּכֶ֔ם
NAS: Shechem longs for your daughter;
KJV: Shechem longeth for your daughter:
INT: Shechem of my son longs the soul your daughter

Exodus 27:17
HEB: הֶֽחָצֵ֤ר סָבִיב֙ מְחֻשָּׁקִ֣ים כֶּ֔סֶף וָוֵיהֶ֖ם
NAS: the court shall be furnished with silver
KJV: the court [shall be] filleted with silver;
INT: the court around shall be furnished silver their hooks

Exodus 38:17
HEB: כָּ֑סֶף וְהֵם֙ מְחֻשָּׁקִ֣ים כֶּ֔סֶף כֹּ֖ל
NAS: of the court were furnished with silver
KJV: of the court [were] filleted with silver.
INT: of silver like were furnished silver and all

Exodus 38:28
HEB: וְצִפָּ֥ה רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם וְחִשַּׁ֥ק אֹתָֽם׃
NAS: their tops and made bands for them.
KJV: their chapiters, and filleted them.
INT: and overlaid their tops and made

Deuteronomy 7:7
HEB: מִכָּל־ הָֽעַמִּ֗ים חָשַׁ֧ק יְהוָ֛ה בָּכֶ֖ם
NAS: The LORD did not set His love on you nor
KJV: The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose
INT: any of the peoples set the LORD choose

Deuteronomy 10:15
HEB: רַ֧ק בַּאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ חָשַׁ֥ק יְהוָ֖ה לְאַהֲבָ֣ה
NAS: did the LORD set His affection to love
KJV: Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers
INT: but your fathers set the LORD to love

Deuteronomy 21:11
HEB: יְפַת־ תֹּ֑אַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥
NAS: woman, and have a desire for her and would take
KJV: woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her
INT: A beautiful be drawn and have take A wife

1 Kings 9:19
HEB: שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָשַׁק֙ לִבְנ֤וֹת בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙
NAS: and all that it pleased Solomon
KJV: which Solomon desired to build
INT: Solomon which desired to build Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 8:6
HEB: שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָשַׁק֙ לִבְנ֤וֹת בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙
NAS: and all that it pleased Solomon
KJV: and all that Solomon desired to build
INT: Solomon after have a delight to build Jerusalem

Psalm 91:14
HEB: כִּ֤י בִ֣י חָ֭שַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ אֲ֝שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ
NAS: Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver
KJV: Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver
INT: Because has loved will deliver will set

Isaiah 38:17
HEB: מָ֑ר וְאַתָּ֞ה חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ נַפְשִׁי֙ מִשַּׁ֣חַת
NAS: bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul
KJV: I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul
INT: bitterness who has kept my soul the pit

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2836
11 Occurrences


ḥā·šaq — 5 Occ.
ḥā·šaq·tā — 1 Occ.
ḥā·šə·qāh — 1 Occ.
mə·ḥuš·šā·qîm — 2 Occ.
wə·ḥā·šaq·tā — 1 Occ.
wə·ḥiš·šaq — 1 Occ.

2835
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