Lexical Summary
chatsi: Half, middle, midst
Original Word:חֵצִי
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:chetsiy
Pronunciation:khaw-tsee'
Phonetic Spelling:(khay-tsee')
KJV: half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts
NASB:half, middle, halfway, midst, half-tribe, two parts
Word Origin:[fromH2673 (חָצָה - divided)]
1. the half or middle
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
half, middle, midnight, midst, part, two parts
Fromchatsah; the half or middle -- half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts.
see HEBREWchatsah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chatsahDefinitionhalf
NASB Translationhalf (76), half-tribe (1), half-tribe* (32), halfway (2), middle (6), midnight* (3), midst (2), two parts (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
123Numbers 12:12 (Late Hebrew
id.; Phoenician ; on formative see Lag
BN 113) — absolute
1 Kings 3:25 (twice in verse) + 3t.;
1 Kings 10:7, compare
1 Kings 16:21;
Ezekiel 40:42;
Daniel 12:7 13t. (usually with Pashta or Tiphcha), compare
2 Samuel 10:4;
1 Chronicles 19:4; construct
Exodus 12:29 84t.; suffix
Exodus 38:4 7t. +
Joshua 8:33 (but article suspicious. see Ges
§ 127 R 3, 4);
Nehemiah 3:38;
2 Samuel 18:3;
Zechariah 14:8 (twice in verse) + 2t. —
half of anything: — blood of offeringExodus 24:6 (twice in verse) (JE), beard2 Samuel 10:4, a hinNumbers 15:9,10;Numbers 28:14 (P); curtainExodus 26:12 (P); weekDaniel 9:27 etc.;half a cubitExodus 26:16;Exodus 36:21 (P) +; especiallyhalf a tribeNumbers 32:33;Numbers 34:13,14,15 (P) +; half of people2 Samuel 18:3;2 Samuel 19:41;1 Kings 16:21 (3 t. in verse) +, etc. so1 Chronicles 2:52 and1 Chronicles 2:54 (see Be and below ). — On1 Samuel 14:4 see We Dr.
middleExodus 12:29 (J)midnight, soJudges 16:3 (twice in verse);Ruth 3:8; of garments2 Samuel 10:4;1 Chronicles 19:4; altarExodus 27:5; of the Mt. of OlivesZechariah 14:4;Psalm 102:25the midst of my days (when they are but half done),Jeremiah 17:11.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe 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.
2. Measures of offering: Half a hin of oil in consecration (Exodus 29:40), half an ephah of flour in daily grain offerings (Leviticus 6:20), and similar prescriptions stressed precision in meeting God’s standard.
3. Spoils of war: InNumbers 31 Moses divided Midianite plunder “into two parts” (Numbers 31:27-54). The equitable allotment between soldiers and congregation reflected divine justice and gratitude.
4. Architectural and furniture dimensions: “Its length is two cubits and a half” (Exodus 25:10) appears repeatedly in tabernacle blueprints, reminding Israel that even measurements came from revelation, not human ingenuity.
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.
• Day-long worship rhythms—“half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening” (Leviticus 6:20)—embedded regular remembrance of the Lord’s continual worthiness.
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.
• Queen of Sheba’s testimony—“Indeed, not even half was told me” (1 Kings 10:7;2 Chronicles 9:6)—underscores Solomon’s wisdom exceeding reputation, anticipating the greater Son of David.
• Nehemiah organized reconstruction so that “half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with spears” (Nehemiah 4:16). Spiritual labor and vigilant warfare remain twin responsibilities for God’s people.
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, inJoshua 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.
• “Half the night” (Psalm 119:62;Nehemiah 9:3) depicts sustained devotion.
• Prophetic duration: “time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 12:7) signals divinely limited tribulation.
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.
2. Balance: Nehemiah’s alternating workforce models a rhythm of service and defense, encouraging congregations to blend ministry and watchfulness.
3. Centrality of Christ: The divided covenant pieces, the parted Jordan, and split Mount Gerizim-Ebal all converge in the One who reconciles divided humanity (Ephesians 2:14) and stands in the midst of His people (Revelation 1:13).
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- wəlaḥăṣî
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