הוֹן
hon (H1952)
substance
AI Word Study
# The Hebrew Word הוֹן (hon): Substance and Wealth The Hebrew word *hon* appears 26 times throughout the biblical text and carries the fundamental meaning of "substance"—referring to material possessions, property, or wealth that constitutes a person's or community's tangible assets. This basic sense encompasses both the concrete reality of what someone owns and the economic value that ownership represents. The word functions as a straightforward descriptor of material resources without inherent moral judgment attached to the term itself. The frequency of *hon's* occurrence across biblical literature suggests it held practical significance in everyday discourse about property and economic matters. By appearing in 26 different contexts, the term demonstrates consistent usage for discussing financial and material circumstances—whether describing individual possessions, family inheritance, or communal resources. This consistency indicates that biblical authors regularly needed a word to denote the substance or wealth that formed the basis of economic life in ancient Near Eastern society. Understanding *hon* as "substance" rather than through more specific modern economic terminology preserves the term's original semantic range. The word captured a comprehensive notion of material property without narrowing the concept to particular categories like money, land, or goods exclusively, making it a flexible term for discussing any form of tangible wealth or possessions that comprised someone's economic standing.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.
Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’
Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’
Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.
“ ‘ “Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
“ ‘ “Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is among you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.
When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.