Original Word: חֵסֶן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: checen
Pronunciation: KHEH-sen
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-sen)
KJV: power
NASB: power
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H26 (אֲבִיגַּיִל אֲבִיגַּל - Abigail)31]

1. strength

power

(Aramaic) from chacan; strength -- power.

see HEBREW chacan

Word Origin
(Aramaic) from chasan
Definition
(royal) power
NASB Translation
power (2).

[חֵ֫סֶן] noun masculine (royal) power; — emphatic חִסְנָא Daniel 2:37; suffix חִסְנִי Daniel 4:27.

Definition and Concept

חֵסֶן (chesen) denotes amassed resources—material wealth, strategic strength, or consolidated power. It conveys the idea of that which is stored up and readily available for the exercise of dominion, whether economic, military, or political. The emphasis lies on both the magnitude of the resources and the security they appear to grant.

Scriptural Occurrences

1. Daniel 2:37 – The prophet tells Nebuchadnezzar, “The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and strength and glory”. Here chesen underlines the treasury of might bestowed by God, reminding the monarch that every ounce of imperial capacity is delegated, not self-generated.
2. Daniel 4:30 – The same king later boasts, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by my vast power and for the glory of my majesty?”. Chesen now appears on Nebuchadnezzar’s lips as the reason for self-exaltation, exposing the peril of attributing divine gifts to human genius.

Historical Context

Both texts arise within the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a realm famed for its monumental architecture, military campaigns, and opulent treasuries. Chesen captures that grandeur: storerooms filled with tribute, armies financed for conquest, and urban marvels such as the Hanging Gardens. Yet Daniel’s narrative frames Babylon’s hoarded assets as temporary trusts under God’s sovereign oversight.

Theological Significance

1. Divine Source of Power – Chesen is never an independent force; it is granted or revoked by God (Daniel 2:37; Daniel 4:31).
2. Test of Humility – The contrast between Daniel’s God-centered proclamation and Nebuchadnezzar’s self-centered boast illustrates Proverbs 27:24, “for riches are not forever.”
3. Warning Against Idolatry of Wealth – When chesen is worshiped, judgment follows (Daniel 4:31-33).
4. Prototype of Kingdom Transfer – The rise and fall of Babylon foreshadows the biblical pattern that earthly treasuries change hands until the eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44) supplants them.

Intertextual Connections

• Isaiah 45:3 speaks of “treasures of darkness,” echoing the theme that hidden stores belong to God.
• Haggai 2:8 affirms, “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,” reinforcing that all chesen is ultimately divine property.
• Luke 12:20-21 parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s fate: “This very night your life will be demanded of you… So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Stewardship – Believers holding material or positional “treasure” are stewards, not owners.
• Humility in Leadership – Leaders must acknowledge God as the giver of every resource, modeling Daniel’s posture rather than Nebuchadnezzar’s pride.
• Discipleship on Wealth – Teaching should emphasize that chesen is a tool for kingdom service, not personal exaltation (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
• Encouragement amid Lack – Just as God could entrust vast resources to an exile like Daniel for His purposes, He remains able to supply every need for gospel advance.

Christological Perspective

Jesus embodies the true treasure (Colossians 2:3) and relinquishes heavenly riches to redeem humanity (2 Corinthians 8:9). Earthly chesen, therefore, points toward a greater wealth found in the Messiah, whose kingdom cannot be shaken and whose riches are inexhaustible.

Summary

חֵסֶן highlights the paradox of human strength: impressive yet contingent, dazzling yet transient. Scripture employs the term to affirm God’s unmatched sovereignty, confront pride, and redirect the hope of every generation from perishable hoards to the imperishable inheritance secured in Christ.

חִסְנִ֖י חִסְנָ֛א חסנא חסני chisNa chisNi ḥis·nā ḥis·nî ḥisnā ḥisnîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts