Lexical Summary chatsi: Half, middle, midst Original Word: חֵצִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance half, middle, midnight, midst, part, two parts From chatsah; the half or middle -- half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts. see HEBREW chatsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chatsah Definition half NASB Translation half (76), half-tribe (1), half-tribe* (32), halfway (2), middle (6), midnight* (3), midst (2), two parts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲצִי123 noun masculineNumbers 12:12 half (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician חצי; on formative see LagBN 113) — absolute חֲצִי 1 Kings 3:25 (twice in verse) + 3t.; הַחֵ֑צִי 1 Kings 10:7, compare 1 Kings 16:21; וָחֵ֔צִי Ezekiel 40:42; וָחֵצִי Daniel 12:7 13t. (usually with Pashta or Tiphcha), compare בַּחֵ֖צִי 2 Samuel 10:4; 1 Chronicles 19:4; construct חֲצִי Exodus 12:29 84t.; suffix חֶצְיוֺ Exodus 38:4 7t. + Joshua 8:33 וְהַחֶצְיוֺ (but article suspicious. see Ges§ 127 R 3, 4); חֶצְיָהּ Nehemiah 3:38; חֶצְיֵנוּ 2 Samuel 18:3; חֶצְיָם Zechariah 14:8 (twice in verse) + 2t. — 1 half of anything: — blood of offering Exodus 24:6 (twice in verse) (JE), beard 2 Samuel 10:4, a hin Numbers 15:9,10; Numbers 28:14 (P); curtain Exodus 26:12 (P); week השׁבוע ׳ח Daniel 9:27 etc.; אַמָּה ׳ח half a cubit Exodus 26:16; Exodus 36:21 (P) +; especially שׁבט ׳ח half a tribe Numbers 32:33; Numbers 34:13,14,15 (P) +; half of people 2 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel 19:41; 1 Kings 16:21 (3 t. in verse) +, etc. so הַמְּנֻחוֺת ׳ח 1 Chronicles 2:52 and הַמָּנַחְתִּי ׳ח 1 Chronicles 2:54 (see Be and מָנַחַת below נוח). — On כבחצי 1 Samuel 14:4 see We Dr. 2 middle הלילה ׳ח Exodus 12:29 (J) midnight, so Judges 16:3 (twice in verse); Ruth 3:8; of garments 2 Samuel 10:4; 1 Chronicles 19:4; altar Exodus 27:5; of the Mt. of Olives Zechariah 14:4; יָמַי ׳ח Psalm 102:25 the midst of my days (when they are but half done), Jeremiah 17:11. Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun חֵצִי occurs about one-hundred-twenty-five times and consistently denotes a portion that is incomplete yet significant—“half,” “middle,” or “midst.” By depicting division, proportion, or centrality, Scripture employs the word in diverse settings to highlight covenant order, redemptive symbolism, and practical stewardship. Fractional and Quantitative Uses 1. Monetary: The half-shekel temple tax (Exodus 30:13-16; 38:26) supplied atonement money for the community. “Each one who crosses over to those numbered is to give a half shekel… to the LORD”. The modest sum underscored equal participation in worship and foreshadowed the full redemption later accomplished without partiality. Cultic and Ritual Contexts • At Sinai Moses “took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar” (Exodus 24:6). The divided blood mediated covenant relationship, picturing substitutionary atonement that would be fully realized at the cross. Narrative and Historical Accounts • Genesis 15:10 records Abram dividing the covenant animals “in half,” placing each part opposite the other. The dramatic scene accents God alone passing through, binding Himself unilaterally to His promise. Covenantal Divisions and Tribal Allotments The recurring phrase “half-tribe of Manasseh” (Deuteronomy 3:13; Joshua 1:12; 12:6; etc.) highlights territorial arrangements east and west of the Jordan. The partition illustrates flexibility within covenant unity: distinct inheritances, shared identity. Similarly, in Joshua 8:33 Israel stood for covenant renewal with “half of them… before Mount Gerizim and half… before Mount Ebal,” dramatizing blessing and curse. Spatial and Geographical Uses חֵצִי marks central points: the “middle of the Jordan” where priests stood with the ark (Joshua 3:17; 4:3), the “middle of the city” when Jericho was burned (Joshua 6:26), and the “middle of the gate” during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 18:24). Such scenes place God’s purposes literally and figuratively at the center of events. Temporal Expressions • “About midnight” (Exodus 12:29; Judges 16:3; Ruth 3:8) indicates decisive turning points—judgment on Egypt, Samson’s escape, Ruth’s proposal. Poetic and Wisdom Literature Psalm 55:23 warns that violent men “will not live out half their days,” underscoring divine justice. Ecclesiastes 7:18 balances extremes: “The one who fears God will escape both of them,” a conceptual “middle” path. Proverbs 30:8 echoes the theme by asking for neither poverty nor riches—provision “in the middle” that fosters reliance on God. Prophetic and Eschatological Significance Zechariah 14:2 foretells that “half of the city will go into exile,” yet the Lord intervenes, illustrating partial judgment that serves a fuller salvation. Daniel’s half-time period limits oppression, assuring the saints that suffering is measured by sovereign decree. Ministry Implications 1. Stewardship: The half-shekel principle challenges believers to contribute proportionally and willingly to God’s work. Summary חֵצִי portrays halves, middles, and measured portions that consistently testify to God’s order, equity, and redemptive intent. Whether regulating offerings, marking sacred space, or delimiting tribulation, every usage converges on the truth that the Lord alone unites what is divided and completes what is partial. Forms and Transliterations בַּחֲצִ֣י בַּחֲצִ֤י בַּחֵ֖צִי בחצי הַחֲצִ֖י הַחֲצִי֙ הַחֵ֑צִי החצי וְהַֽחֶצְי֖וֹ וְהַחֲצִ֖י וְחֶצְיָ֖ם וְחֶצְיָ֗ם וְחֶצְיוֹ־ וְלַחֲצִ֖י וְלַחֲצִ֣י ׀ וַחֲצִ֕י וַחֲצִ֖י וַחֲצִ֣י וַחֲצִ֣י ׀ וַחֲצִ֤י וַחֲצִ֥י וַחֲצִ֨י וַחֲצִי֙ וַחֲצִי֩ וָחֵ֔צִי וָחֵ֖צִי וָחֵ֗צִי וָחֵ֙צִי֙ וָחֵ֜צִי וּ֠מֵחֲצִי וּלְחֶצְי֗וֹ וּמֵחֲצִ֨י וּמֵחֲצִי֙ והחצי והחציו וחצי וחציו־ וחצים ולחצי ולחציו ומחצי חֲצִ֖י חֲצִ֣י חֲצִ֤י חֲצִ֥י חֲצִ֧י חֲצִ֨י חֲצִי֙ חֲצִי־ חֶצְי֞וֹ חֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙ חֶצְיָ֑הּ חֶצְיָ֗ם חֶצְיֽוֹ׃ חֶצְיוֹ֙ חצי חצי־ חציה חציו חציו׃ חצים חצינו כְּבַחֲצִ֥י כַּחֲצִ֥י כבחצי כחצי לַחֲצִ֖י לַחֲצִ֛י לַחֲצִ֤י לַחֲצִ֥י לַחֲצִי֙ לַחֵ֑צִי לחצי מֵֽחֶצְיוֹ֙ מֵחֲצִ֞י מחצי מחציו ba·ḥă·ṣî ba·ḥê·ṣî bachaTzi baChetzi baḥăṣî baḥêṣî chaTzi chetzYah chetzYam chetzYenu chetzYo ha·ḥă·ṣî ha·ḥê·ṣî ḥă·ṣî ḥă·ṣî- hachaTzi haChetzi haḥăṣî haḥêṣî ḥăṣî ḥăṣî- ḥeṣ·yāh ḥeṣ·yām ḥeṣ·yê·nū ḥeṣ·yōw ḥeṣyāh ḥeṣyām ḥeṣyênū ḥeṣyōw ka·ḥă·ṣî kachaTzi kaḥăṣî kə·ḇa·ḥă·ṣî kəḇaḥăṣî kevachaTzi la·ḥă·ṣî la·ḥê·ṣî lachaTzi laChetzi laḥăṣî laḥêṣî mê·ḥă·ṣî mê·ḥeṣ·yōw mechaTzi mechetzYo mêḥăṣî mêḥeṣyōw ū·lə·ḥeṣ·yōw ū·mê·ḥă·ṣî ulechetzYo ūləḥeṣyōw umechaTzi ūmêḥăṣî vachaTzi vaChetzi vechetzYam vechetzyov vehachaTzi vehachetzYo velachaTzi wa·ḥă·ṣî wā·ḥê·ṣî waḥăṣî wāḥêṣî wə·ha·ḥă·ṣî wə·ha·ḥeṣ·yōw wə·ḥeṣ·yām wə·ḥeṣ·yōw- wə·la·ḥă·ṣî wəhaḥăṣî wəhaḥeṣyōw wəḥeṣyām wəḥeṣyōw- wəlaḥăṣîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 12:29 HEB: וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֗יְלָה וַֽיהוָה֮ NAS: Now it came about at midnight that the LORD INT: came half night the LORD Exodus 24:6 Exodus 24:6 Exodus 25:10 Exodus 25:10 Exodus 25:10 Exodus 25:17 Exodus 25:17 Exodus 25:23 Exodus 26:12 Exodus 26:16 Exodus 27:5 Exodus 36:21 Exodus 37:1 Exodus 37:1 Exodus 37:1 Exodus 37:6 Exodus 37:6 Exodus 37:10 Exodus 38:4 Numbers 12:12 Numbers 15:9 Numbers 15:10 Numbers 28:14 Numbers 32:33 125 Occurrences |