Lexical Summary
chashab: To think, plan, reckon, account, consider, devise, esteem
Original Word:חָשַׁב
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:chashab
Pronunciation:khaw-shab'
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-shab')
KJV: (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think
NASB:considered, devise, reckoned, skillful workman, devised, regarded, calculate
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate
2. (figuratively) to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense)
3. hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make account of, conceive, consider, count, cunning man, work, workman, devise,
A primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) To fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute -- (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto think, account
NASB Translationaccounting (1), calculate (5), composed (1), consider (3), considered (13), counted (1), counts (1), designer (1), determined (1), devise (13), devised (8), devises (1), devising (1), esteem (2), esteemed (2), execute (1), have (1), impute (1), intend (2), make (2), makers (1), meant (2), mindful (1), plan (2), planned (3), planning (5), plans (4), plotted (1), pondered (1), purposed (3), reckoned (10), regard (1), regarded (8), regards (1), require an accounting (1), scheme (1), schemed (1), seem (1), skillful (1), skillful workman (9), think (3), thought (2), value (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic ,
; Arabic
; Ethiopic
id.; Phoenician noun meaning dubious see CIS
i. 86) —
PerfectIsaiah 33:8 9t.;2 Samuel 14:13 etc.;ImperfectIsaiah 10:7 4t.;2 Samuel 19:20;Psalm 40:18; suffixJob 19:11;Job 33:10; pluralPsalm 41:8;Daniel 11:25;Isaiah 13:17;Psalm 35:20;Jeremiah 18:18, etc. + 9 t.Imperfect; Infinitive constructExodus 31:4 3t.;ParticipleExodus 26:1 15t., 2Chronicles 26:15;Nehemiah 6:2 3t.,Micah 2:1 3t.; —
:
think,accountIsaiah 10:7not so thinketh his mind;Malachi 3:16 thosethinking of his name; followed by 2 accusativeIsaiah 53:4we thought him stricken; elsewhere with accusative +Genesis 38:15 (J),1 Samuel 1:13;Job 19:15;Job 35:2;Job 41:24; so, figurative, of crocodileJob 41:19he reckoneth iron as straw.
devise, plan, mean, with accusativeEzekiel 38:10,Psalm 35:4;Psalm 140:3;Zechariah 7:10;Zechariah 8:17,Proverbs 16:30,Psalm 10:2;Psalm 21:12,Psalm 35:20,Micah 2:1;Ezekiel 11:2;Psalm 36:5,Psalm 52:4;devise evil againstGenesis 50:20 (E),Jeremiah 48:2;Nahum 1:11,Psalm 41:8,Jeremiah 11:19;Jeremiah 18:18;Jeremiah 49:30;Daniel 11:25;Esther 8:3;Esther 9:25,2 Samuel 14:13; with infinitive1 Samuel 18:25;Jeremiah 18:8;Jeremiah 23:27;Job 6:26;Nehemiah 6:2,6;Esther 9:24;Psalm 140:5; with + Imperfect2 Samuel 14:14 (where, however, Ew reads for compare We Dr; in this case carries on ).
charge, impute ,2 Samuel 19:20impute iniquity to.
esteem, value, regard, silverIsaiah 13:17, a manIsaiah 33:8, the servant ofIsaiah 53:3.
invent ingenious and artistic things,Amos 6:5invent for themselves instruments of music;invent cunning work (of artistic devices in construction of tabernacle)Exodus 31:4;Exodus 35:32,35 (all P), so 2 Chron 2:13;work of the cunning (ingenious, inventive)workman (of artistic devices in weaving; see especially VB and Di)Exodus 26:1,31;Exodus 28:6,15;Exodus 36:8,35;Exodus 39:3,8 (all P); 2Chronicles 26:15inventions of inventive men (of engines of war);craftsman and inventive workman (in construction of tabernacle, see above)Exodus 35:35;Exodus 38:23 (P).
:
think, with accusative pers + indirect objectaccount one ,for an enemyJob 13:24;Job 33:10;Job 19:11he accounted me unto him as his adversaries.
devise, plan, mean, with accusative + indirect objectfor goodGenesis 50:20 (E); with persondevise for mePsalm 40:18; accusative of thing + ,devise something against a personMicah 2:3;Jeremiah 18:11;towards oneJeremiah 29:11, with againstJeremiah 49:20;Jeremiah 50:45; followed by infinitiveJeremiah 26:3;Jeremiah 36:3;Lamentations 2:8.
impute, reckon, with accusative of thing + person, the habit of believing inhe reckoned to Abram as righteousnessGenesis 15:6 (J E; compare ); notimpute iniquity to onePsalm 32:2.
PerfectNumbers 18:27,30,Psalm 88:5 etc. + 10 t.Perfect; ImperfectLeviticus 7:18 7t., etc., + 6 t.Imperfect; ParticipleIsaiah 2:22;1 Kings 10:21; 2Chronicles 9:20: —
be accounted, thought, esteemed, withasHosea 8:12;Isaiah 5:28;Isaiah 29:16;Isaiah 40:15;Psalm 44:23;Job 18:3;Job 41:21; withIsaiah 29:17 =Isaiah 32:15,Lamentations 4:2;with, amongPsalm 88:5,Isaiah 2:22at what (value) ? (see probably interpolated; omitted by ); with accusativeDeuteronomy 2:11,20;Proverbs 17:28;Nehemiah 13:13;Genesis 31:13 (E; Sam )Isaiah 40:17.
be computed, reckoned, withJoshua 13:3 (D),Leviticus 25:31 (P),2 Samuel 4:2: absolutewas not counted (so plentiful was it)1 Kings 10:21 2Chronicles 9:20;2 Kings 22:7.
be imputed to any one, withLeviticus 7:18;Numbers 18:27,30 (all P),Leviticus 17:4 (H)Proverbs 27:14; the interposition of PhinehasPsalm 106:31was imputed to him for righteousness (compare ).
Perfect3masculine singularLeviticus 25:27 4t.; feminineJonah 1:4; 1singularPsalm 77:6;Psalm 119:59;ImperfectProverbs 16:9;Daniel 11:24,Nahum 1:9, etc., + 4 t.Imperfect; ParticipleProverbs 24:8: —
think upon, consider, be mindful of, with accusativePsalm 77:6;Psalm 119:59,Psalm 144:3what (is)man's son, and thou thinkest upon him ("" ).
think to do,devise, plan, with accusativeProverbs 16:9, of persons against whomHosea 7:15;Nahum 1:9,Daniel 11:24; with infinitivePsalm 73:16;Proverbs 24:8; so of inanimate objectJonah 1:4the ship was about to (minded to)be broken up.
count, reckon, the years since a sale of landLeviticus 25:27 (H); with personLeviticus 25:52 (H),Leviticus 27:18,23 (P); withLeviticus 25:50 (P); with2 Kings 12:16.
ImperfectNumbers 23:9 (JE)among the nations it shall not reckon itself.
[] (see Biblical Hebrew); —
Participle pass pluralDaniel 4:32like those not accounted of, of no account, Bev Dr.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb חָשַׁב (chashab, Strong’s Hebrew 2803) gathers the ideas of thinking, accounting, reckoning, valuing, designing, inventing, or planning. When Scripture speaks of what people “count,” “deem,” “consider,” or “devise,” or of artistic “design,” the writer is usually employing this root. Its occurrences span every major section of the Old Testament and reveal the heart’s calculations—whether righteous or evil—and the Lord’s sovereign, saving plan.
Frequency and Distribution
Approximately 124 times, chashab appears in:
• Torah – chief clusters in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers
• Historical Books – Judges through Chronicles
• Wisdom Literature – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
• Major and Minor Prophets – Isaiah through Zechariah
Semantic Range and Functional Domains
1. Accounting and Legal Reckoning
•Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
•Leviticus 7:18; 17:4 – offerings and blood “reckoned” or “imputed.”
•Numbers 18:27 – the Levites’ tithe “will be reckoned to you as grain.”
•Psalm 32:2 – “Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him.”
•2 Samuel 19:19 – plea that guilt not be “imputed.”
2. Artistic Design and Skilled Workmanship
•Exodus 26:1; 28:6 – “skillfully woven” curtains and garments.
•Exodus 31:4; 35:32, 35 – Bezalel and Oholiab “design artistic works.”
•Exodus 38:23 – Aholiab “an engraver and designer.”
•2 Chronicles 2:14 – Huram-Abi “skillful to devise all kinds of designs.”
•2 Chronicles 26:15 – siege engines “invented by skillful men.”
3. Strategic Planning, Counsel, and Policy
•Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
•Isaiah 55:8 – divine “thoughts” contrasted with human.
•Jeremiah 18:11 – “I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan.”
•Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” employing the noun from the root.
4. Plotting or Devising Evil
•Genesis 50:20 – “You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good.”
•Psalm 140:2 – “who devise evil plans in their hearts.”
•Micah 2:1 – “Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds.”
•Zechariah 8:17 – prohibition against devising evil in the heart.
5. Estimating, Valuing, Considering
•Job 19:11 – Job laments that God “counts me among His enemies.”
•Isaiah 53:4 – “yet we considered Him stricken by God.”
•Lamentations 4:2 – sons of Zion “regarded as earthen pitchers.”
Key Theological Themes
Imputed Righteousness
Genesis 15:6 establishes the pattern that faith is “credited” as righteousness, a truth elaborated inRomans 4.Psalm 32:2 celebrates the blessedness of non-imputation of sin, echoing the atoning provisions of Leviticus. The verb grounds the doctrine that God justly reckons sinners righteous through faith.
Guilt and Atonement
When improper sacrifices are offered (Leviticus 7:18; 17:4), guilt is “imputed” to the offender, showing the seriousness of approaching God on His terms and the necessity of substitutionary atonement.
Sovereign Providence
Joseph’s testimony (Genesis 50:20) exposes a crucial mystery: human evil designs are enfolded into God’s good design. Likewise Assyria’s boast inIsaiah 10:7 and Sennacherib’s claims in2 Kings 19:25 confront divine pre-planning that overrules proud human calculation.
Messianic Lens
Isaiah 53:4 employs chashab to reveal Israel’s misjudgment of the Servant’s suffering. What they “considered” defeat, God designed as redemptive victory. The Servant bears sin not His own, so that believers’ sin will not be “reckoned” to them.
Ethics of the Heart
Proverbs and the prophets link chashab to moral responsibility: what is secretly planned will bear visible fruit. Hearts that “devise evil” incur judgment; those that “plan good” find “loving devotion and truth” (Proverbs 14:22).
Selected Passages
•Genesis 15:6; 50:20
•Exodus 31:4
•Leviticus 17:4
•Numbers 18:27
•2 Samuel 19:19
•Psalm 32:2; 140:2
•Proverbs 16:9
•Isaiah 53:4
•Jeremiah 18:11; 29:11
•Micah 2:1
•Zechariah 8:17
Historical and Cultural Background
In ancient Near-Eastern accounting, transactions were recorded and “reckoned” to individual parties; chashab reflects that backdrop. Artisans of the tabernacle period modeled inventive thought under the Spirit’s gifting. Royal courts, military strategists, and prophets alike “schemed” (positively or negatively) with chashab. The term therefore bridges practical craftsmanship and abstract theology.
Ministry Significance
1. Assurance: As with Abram, faith is still “credited” as righteousness in Christ.
2. Sanctification: Believers must monitor heart-level calculations, replacing evil designs with Spirit-inspired creativity and love.
3. Worship and Service: Artistic ministries stand on a biblical precedent of Spirit-empowered design.
4. Providence: Trust in God’s wise plans steadies the church amid human plots and cultural upheaval.
Pastoral and Devotional Reflections
• Examine what your heart is “planning” each day; align it with the Lord’s revealed will.
• Celebrate that your forgiven sins are no longer “counted” against you.
• Offer talents in craftsmanship or strategy as holy service, seeking designs that glorify God.
• Rest in the reality that even hostile schemes are subservient to the Redeemer’s grand design.
See Also
tsadaq (Strong’s 6663) – to justify
kasah (Strong’s 3680) – to cover
machashavah (Strong’s 4284) – plan, thought (noun of chashab)
Forms and Transliterations
הַחֹשְׁבִ֗ים הַחֹשְׁבִ֥ים החשבים וְחִשַּׁב֙ וְחִשַּׁב־ וְחָשַׁ֥ב וְחָשַׁב֙ וְחָשַׁבְתָּ֖ וְחֹשְׁבֵ֖י וְחֹשֵׁ֑ב וְחֹשֵׁ֥ב וְחֹשֵׁב֒ וְלַחְשֹׁ֖ב וְנֶחְשַׁ֥ב וְנֶחְשַׁב֙ וְנַחְשְׁבָ֣ה וְתַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ וַֽתְּחַשְּׁבֵֽהוּ׃ וַיַּחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ וַתֵּחָ֣שֶׁב וָֽ֭אֲחַשְּׁבָה וּלְחֹשְׁבֵ֖י ואחשבה וחשב וחשב־ וחשבי וחשבת ויחשבה ויחשבני ולחשב ולחשבי ונחשב ונחשבה ותחשב ותחשבהו׃ ותחשבני חֲשַׁבְנֻ֔הוּ חֲשַׁבְנֻֽהוּ׃ חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם חֲשָׁבָ֣הּ חִשְּׁבָ֖ה חִשַּׁ֣בְתִּי חִשַּׁ֥בְתִּי חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ חָֽשְׁב֥וּ חָשְׁב֣וּ חָשְׁב֤וּ חָשְׁב֥וּ חָשַׁ֔ב חָשַׁ֖ב חָשַׁ֖בְתִּי חָשַׁ֛בְתָּה חָשַׁ֣בְתָּ חָשַׁ֥ב חָשַׁ֨ב חָשָֽׁבוּ׃ חֹ֝שְׁבֵ֗י חֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים חֹֽשְׁבֵי־ חֹשְׁבִ֣ים חֹשֵֽׁב׃ חֹשֵׁ֔ב חֹשֵׁ֖ב חֹשֵׁ֛ב חֹשֵׁ֥ב חֹשֵׁב֙ חוֹשֵׁ֗ב חושב חשב חשב׃ חשבה חשבו חשבו׃ חשבי חשבי־ חשבים חשבנהו חשבנהו׃ חשבת חשבתה חשבתי חשבתם יְחַשְּׁב֣וּ יְחַשְּׁבוּ־ יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב יְחַשֵּׁ֥ב יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃ יֵֽחָשֵׁ֑ב יֵחָשְׁב֥וּ יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב יֵחָשֵׁ֛ב יֵחָשֵׁ֞ב יֵחָשֵׁ֣ב יַחְשְׁב֖וּ יַחְשְׁב֥וּ יַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי יַחְשֹׁ֑ב יַחְשֹׁ֔בוּ יַחְשֹׁ֖ב יַחְשֹׁ֗ב יַחְשֹׁ֣ב יַחְשֹׁ֬ב יַחֲשָׁ֫ב יַחֲשָׁב־ יַחֲשֹׁבֽוּן׃ יחשב יחשב־ יחשב׃ יחשבו יחשבו־ יחשבון׃ יחשבני יתחשב׃ לַחְשֹׁ֖ב לַחְשֹׁ֣ב לחשב מְחַשֵּׁ֥ב מחשב נֶ֝חְשַׁ֗בְנוּ נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי נֶחְשְׁב֣וּ נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ נֶחְשְׁבוּ־ נֶחְשַׁ֣בְנוּ נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ׃ נֶחְשָׁ֑בוּ נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ נֶחְשָׁ֖ב נֶחְשָׁ֛ב נחשב נחשבו נחשבו־ נחשבו׃ נחשבנו נחשבתי תְּחַשְּׁבוּן֙ תֵּחָ֥שֶׁב תֵּחָשֵׁ֑ב תֵּחָשֵׁ֖ב תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ תַּחְשְׁבֻ֑נִי תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙ תַּחְשֹׁ֑בוּ תַּחְשֹׁ֣ב תחשב תחשבו תחשבון תחשבני chaShav chashaVah chashavNuhu chaShavta chaShavtah chashavTem chaShavti chaShavu chasheVu chishShavti chishsheVah choShev chosheVei chosheVim ha·ḥō·šə·ḇîm ḥă·šā·ḇāh ḥā·šā·ḇū ḥā·šaḇ ḥă·šaḇ·nu·hū ḥā·šaḇ·tā ḥā·šaḇ·tāh ḥă·šaḇ·tem ḥā·šaḇ·tî ḥā·šə·ḇū hachosheVim haḥōšəḇîm ḥāšaḇ ḥăšāḇāh ḥăšaḇnuhū ḥāšaḇtā ḥāšaḇtāh ḥăšaḇtem ḥāšaḇtî ḥāšāḇū ḥāšəḇū ḥiš·šaḇ·tî ḥiš·šə·ḇāh ḥiššaḇtî ḥiššəḇāh ḥō·šə·ḇê ḥō·šə·ḇê- ḥō·šə·ḇîm ḥō·šêḇ ḥō·wō·šêḇ ḥōšêḇ ḥōšəḇê ḥōšəḇê- ḥōšəḇîm ḥōwōšêḇ lachSho laḥ·šōḇ laḥšōḇ mə·ḥaš·šêḇ mechashShev məḥaššêḇ nechShav nechShavnu Nechshavti nechShavu nechsheVu neḥ·šā·ḇū neḥ·šāḇ neḥ·šaḇ·nū neḥ·šaḇ·tî neḥ·šə·ḇū neḥ·šə·ḇū- neḥšāḇ neḥšaḇnū neḥšaḇtî neḥšāḇū neḥšəḇū neḥšəḇū- tachsheVu tachsheVuni tachSho tachShou taḥ·šə·ḇū taḥ·šə·ḇu·nî taḥ·šō·ḇū taḥ·šōḇ taḥšəḇū taḥšəḇunî taḥšōḇ taḥšōḇū tê·ḥā·šeḇ tê·ḥā·šêḇ tə·ḥaš·šə·ḇūn techaShev techashsheVun têḥāšeḇ têḥāšêḇ təḥaššəḇūn ū·lə·ḥō·šə·ḇê ulechosheVei ūləḥōšəḇê Vaachashshevah vaiyachsheVeha vaiyachsheVeni vatteChashev VattechashsheVehu vechaShav vechashavTa vechishShav vechoShev vechosheVei velachSho venachsheVah venechShav vetachsheVeni wā’ăḥaššəḇāh wā·’ă·ḥaš·šə·ḇāh wat·tê·ḥā·šeḇ wat·tə·ḥaš·šə·ḇê·hū wattêḥāšeḇ wattəḥaššəḇêhū way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā way·yaḥ·šə·ḇê·nî wayyaḥšəḇehā wayyaḥšəḇênî wə·ḥā·šaḇ wə·ḥā·šaḇ·tā wə·ḥiš·šaḇ wə·ḥiš·šaḇ- wə·ḥō·šə·ḇê wə·ḥō·šêḇ wə·laḥ·šōḇ wə·naḥ·šə·ḇāh wə·neḥ·šaḇ wə·ṯaḥ·šə·ḇê·nî wəḥāšaḇ wəḥāšaḇtā wəḥiššaḇ wəḥiššaḇ- wəḥōšêḇ wəḥōšəḇê wəlaḥšōḇ wənaḥšəḇāh wəneḥšaḇ wəṯaḥšəḇênî ya·ḥă·šāḇ ya·ḥă·šāḇ- ya·ḥă·šō·ḇūn yachaShav yachashov yachashoVun yachsheVeni yachsheVu yachSho yachShou yaḥ·šə·ḇê·nî yaḥ·šə·ḇū yaḥ·šō·ḇū yaḥ·šōḇ yaḥăšāḇ yaḥăšāḇ- yaḥăšōḇūn yaḥšəḇênî yaḥšəḇū yaḥšōḇ yaḥšōḇū yê·ḥā·šə·ḇū yê·ḥā·šêḇ yə·ḥaš·šə·ḇū yə·ḥaš·šə·ḇū- yə·ḥaš·šêḇ yechaShev yechasheVu yechashShev yechashsheVu yêḥāšêḇ yêḥāšəḇū yəḥaššêḇ yəḥaššəḇū yəḥaššəḇū- yiṯ·ḥaš·šāḇ yitchashShav yiṯḥaššāḇ
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