Original Word: חֲסַף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chacaph
Pronunciation: khaw-saf'
Phonetic Spelling: (khas-af')
Definition: a clod
Meaning: A clod; a piece of earth or clay.

Word Origin: Aramaic; akin to the Hebrew root חָסַף (chasaph), meaning "to strip" or "to peel."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry is Strong's G3749, "ὄστρακον" (ostrakon), which also refers to a piece of pottery or a potsherd. This Greek term similarly conveys the idea of fragility and is used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe human weakness and the temporary nature of earthly vessels, as seen in 2 Corinthians 4:7, where Paul speaks of "treasures in jars of clay."

Usage: This term is used in the context of describing a piece of clay or earth, often in a metaphorical sense to convey fragility or insignificance.

Context: The Aramaic word חֲסַף (chasaf) appears in the context of the Book of Daniel, specifically in the Aramaic sections of the text. It is used to describe the material composition of the feet of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as recorded in Daniel 2:33-34. The statue's feet are described as being partly of iron and partly of clay, symbolizing a divided kingdom with inherent weaknesses. The use of חֲסַף in this passage emphasizes the fragility and impermanence of earthly kingdoms in contrast to the eternal kingdom of God. The imagery of clay, a common and easily broken material, serves to highlight the vulnerability and transient nature of human power and authority.

Word Origin
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of chaspas
Definition
clay, potsherd
NASB Translation
clay (7), pottery (2).

חֲסַף noun [masculine] clay, potsherd (ᵑ7 id.; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic clay vessel, plural potsherds Schulth⁶⁸, Syriac potsherd; ᵑ7 חצְבָא, Late Hebrew חָצָב clay vessel; Assyrian —aƒbu, id., jar (PS¹²³⁸), whence Arabic pottery Frä¹⁶⁹, but Sabean חסף jar, acc to Hom^ZMG Hom^{xivi (1892), 532}; compare Ethiopic jar (transposed; Di¹²⁶⁵); see Biblical Hebrew [חַסְמַּם]); — ׳ח absolute Daniel 2:41 (יְ מֶּחָר ׳ח), חֲסַ֑ף Daniel 2:33. Daniel 2:42; construct טִינָא ׳ח Daniel 2:41. Daniel 2:43; emphatic חַסְמָּא Daniel 2:34. Daniel 2:35. Daniel 2:43.v: 45.

clay

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of chacpac; a clod -- clay.

see HEBREW chacpac

בַּחֲסַ֣ף בַּחֲסַ֥ף בחסף וְחַסְפָּ֑א וחספא חֲסַ֑ף חֲסַ֤ף חֲסַֽף׃ חַסְפָּ֨א חַסְפָּֽא׃ חַסְפָּא֙ חסף חסף׃ חספא חספא׃ ba·ḥă·sap̄ bachaSaf baḥăsap̄ chaSaf chasPa ḥă·sap̄ ḥas·pā ḥăsap̄ ḥaspā vechasPa wə·ḥas·pā wəḥaspāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts