Lexical Summary
hon: Wealth, riches, substance, possessions
Original Word:הוֹן
Part of Speech:noun masculine
Transliteration:hown
Pronunciation:hōn
Phonetic Spelling:(hone)
KJV: enough, + for nought, riches, substance, wealth
NASB:wealth, riches, enough, possession, substance
Word Origin:[from the same asH1951 (הוּן - regarded it as easy) in the sense ofH202 (אוֹן - strength)]
1. wealth
2. (by implication) enough
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
enough, for nothing, riches, substance, wealth
From the same ashuwn in the sense of'own; wealth; by implication, enough -- enough, + for nought, riches, substance, wealth.
see HEBREWhuwn
see HEBREW'own
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
hunDefinitionwealth, sufficiency
NASB Translationcheaply* (1), enough (2), possession (1), riches (4), substance (1), wealth (17).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Proverbs 8:18, (in poetry, almost wholly Wisdom Literature, especially Proverbs; compare I. above) — absolute
Proverbs 1:13 15t. +
Ezekiel 27:12,18 (where Co ); construct
Proverbs 6:31 3t.; suffix
Proverbs 3:9;
Ezekiel 27:27 +
Ezekiel 27:12;
Ezekiel 27:18 Co;
Proverbs 28:8; plural suffix
Ezekiel 27:33 —
wealthPsalm 112:3 ("" )Proverbs 8:18 (""id.)Proverbs 1:13 ("" ) compareProverbs 10:15 (opposed to ),Proverbs 18:11;Proverbs 3:9 ("" )Proverbs 6:31;Songs 8:7Proverbs 19:14; seeProverbs 19:4 (opposed to )Proverbs 28:8 (opposed to ); alsoPsalm 119:14;Proverbs 11:4;Proverbs 12:27;Proverbs 13:7,11;Proverbs 24:4;Proverbs 28:22 (opposed to )Proverbs 29:3;Ezekiel 27:12,18,27,33.
with + pretii, =high value, orpricePsalm 44:13 — i.e. cheaply, = 'for no price at all' ("" ).
sufficiency, enough! in exclamationProverbs 30:15,16 (so also , Aq Symm Theod ).
Topical Lexicon
Overviewהוֹן (hon) points to that which one possesses in quantity—wealth, substance, riches, goods, sufficiency. Across its roughly twenty-six appearances it can denote tangible assets or the abstract security wealth seems to promise. Scripture consistently presents הוֹן as a servant that may be used for good or evil, never as an end in itself.
Divine Ownership and Human Stewardship
The first occurrence,Genesis 31:16, frames wealth as something God can “take” and “give.” Jacob’s wives say, “all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us.” From the outset, הוֹן is under God’s sovereign control; people are stewards, not ultimate owners (compareProverbs 10:22). This foundation undergirds Israel’s economic laws, their sacrificial system, and later New-Covenant teaching on giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
Blessing Tied to Covenant Faithfulness
InDeuteronomy 8 and 28 the promise of material abundance was contingent on obedience. Although other Hebrew words for wealth occur in those chapters, the theological principle applies to הוֹן: prosperity is a covenant blessing, never an autonomous right. When Psalms 112:3 declares, “Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever,” the parallelism shows that abiding righteousness, not wealth, is the lasting treasure.
Wisdom Literature: Guidance for Everyday Life
Proverbs contains the highest concentration of the term, setting out a theology of wealth that balances diligence, generosity, humility, and eternal perspective.
• Wise acquisition: “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes dwindles, but whoever gathers little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11).
• Fragile security: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it is gone” (Proverbs 23:4-5).
• Moral limits: “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice” (Proverbs 16:8).
• Generosity rewarded: “Honor the LORD with your wealth and the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
Wisdom’s pedagogy is clear: הוֹן may enhance life, but it can never substitute for “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 15:16).
Prophetic Warnings and Social Justice
The prophets expose how accumulated הוֹן can harden hearts and distort society.
•Isaiah 10:13-14 depicts Assyria boasting, “By the strength of my hand I have done this,” as it seizes others’ wealth. The LORD promises humbling judgment.
•Ezekiel 27 laments Tyre’s lost merchandise, reminding nations that commercial greatness is fleeting.
•Micah 6:12 indicts Jerusalem: “For her rich men are full of violence, her residents speak lies.” The misuse of הוֹן becomes evidence of covenant breach and invites exile.
Psalms: Transience Versus Trust
Psalm 49 contrasts those “who trust in their wealth” with those who trust in God. Verse 6 warns, “None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” הוֹן cannot purchase life.Psalm 62:10 adds, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” The psalmists redirect confidence from possessions to the Redeemer.
Historical Narratives: Case Studies
•2 Chronicles 32:27 records Hezekiah’s great wealth after divine deliverance. Yet2 Chronicles 32:31 shows God testing him “to know what was in his heart,” illustrating that благ† blessing is also a proving ground.
•Esther 5:11 presents Haman boasting of “the glory of his riches,” a prelude to his downfall. Narrative history confirms Proverbs: prideful trust in הוֹן leads to ruin.
Ministry Implications: Discipleship and Stewardship
1. Teach stewardship: Since God grants and removes wealth (Genesis 31:16;Job 1:21), believers manage resources for His glory.
2. Guard the heart: Proverbs’ repeated cautions call for self-examination against covetousness and consumerism.
3. Encourage generosity: Honoring the LORD with הוֹן funds gospel advance, cares for the poor (Proverbs 19:17), and stores “treasure in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).
4. Confront injustice: Prophetic denunciations inform ethical engagement, motivating advocacy for fair practices and compassionate outreach.
Eschatological Perspective
Zechariah 14:14 envisions end-time plunder—“the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected”—showing that God will ultimately redistribute הוֹן to establish righteous order. This foreshadows the New Heaven and New Earth, where true riches are shared in Christ.
Christological Fulfillment
Although הוֹן pertains to material assets, its ultimate resolution is found in Jesus Christ, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Earthly הוֹן is re-evaluated in light of the incomparable worth of knowing Him (Philippians 3:8).
Key Takeaways
• Wealth is a gift and test from God.
• Righteous use of הוֹן involves diligence, generosity, and justice.
• Trust in wealth is idolatry; trust in the Lord is security.
• Eternal riches in Christ relativize all earthly possessions.
Forms and Transliterations
ה֑וֹן ה֖וֹן ה֗וֹן ה֣וֹן ה֤וֹן ה֥וֹן ה֭וֹן ה֭וֹנוֹ הֽוֹן׃ הוֹן־ הוֹנֵךְ֙ הוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ הון הון־ הון׃ הונו הוניך הונך וְה֣וֹן וְהוֹן־ וָ֭הוֹן והון והון־ לַה֗וֹן להון מֵהוֹנֶ֑ךָ מהונך hō·w·na·yiḵ hō·w·nêḵ hō·w·nōw hō·wn hō·wn- Hon hoNayich honeCh hono hōwn hōwn- hōwnayiḵ hōwnêḵ hōwnōw la·hō·wn laHon lahōwn mê·hō·w·ne·ḵā mehoNecha mêhōwneḵā Vahon vehon wā·hō·wn wāhōwn wə·hō·wn wə·hō·wn- wəhōwn wəhōwn-
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