H2280 H2280
To bind, bind up, saddle; of bandaging wounds, saddling animals, wrapping cloth, and restraining or governing.
Chavash is one of those earthy Hebrew verbs whose concrete physical action — tying something securely onto something else — branches into surprisingly diverse applications. Its most frequent biblical use is saddling a donkey, the mundane but essential act of strapping riding gear onto a beast of burden before a journey. Abraham saddles his donkey before the binding of Isaac (Gen 22:3); Balaam saddles his before encountering the angel. But the same verb describes the compassionate act of binding up wounds — God 'binds up the brokenhearted' (Isa 61:1) and 'heals the wounds' of his people (Ps 147:3). The multilingual translations reveal the semantic spread clearly: Spanish ensillar ('to saddle') versus vendar ('to bandage') versus atar ('to bind'), each a distinct word for what Hebrew covers with one root. The verb's rarest extensions — damming a river, governing a people — show how 'binding' could metaphorically mean 'bringing under control.'
6. sense 6 — To govern or bring under control — a single occurrence at Job 34:17, in Elihu's rhetorical question: 'Shall one who hates justice govern?' Spanish gobernará ('will he govern') and English 'can he govern' both select political-authority vocabulary, making this the most abstract extension of the root. The semantic path from 'bind' to 'govern' runs through the concept of restraint and control — a ruler 'binds' a people together under authority, just as one binds a load onto a donkey or binds a wound closed. The rarity of this sense (hapax in this meaning) suggests it was a living metaphor rather than a lexicalized political term. 1×
AR["يَحكُمُ"]·ben["বাঁধবেন"]·DE["[יחבוש]"]·EN["can-He-govern"]·FR["bander"]·heb["יחבוש"]·HI["शासन-करेगा"]·ID["memerintah"]·IT["can-Egli-govern"]·jav["ngereh"]·KO["다스리리오"]·PT["governará"]·RU["обвяжет"]·ES["gobernará"]·SW["atatawala"]·TR["yönetebilir"]·urd["حکومت کرے گا"]
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. saddle an animal — To saddle a donkey or other riding animal — the most frequent sense at 13 occurrences, spanning the entire narrative tradition. Abraham saddles his donkey for the Moriah journey (Gen 22:3), Balaam for his fateful ride (Num 22:21), the Levite for his tragic journey to Gibeah (Judg 19:10), Mephibosheth's servant Ziba saddles donkeys laden with provisions (2 Sam 16:1), and Ahithophel saddles his donkey for his final journey home (2 Sam 17:23). Spanish ensillar and enalbardar are dedicated saddling terms, while German and French both use saddle/saddled, confirming this as a lexicalized technical sense entirely distinct from wound-binding. The verb here means strapping equipment tightly onto an animal's back — a specific subtype of 'binding.' 13×
AR["أُسَرِّجُ","شُدُّوا","شُدُّوا-","فَشَدَّتْ","مُسَرَّجَينِ","مُسَرَّجَيْنِ","وَ-شَدَّ","وَ-شَدُّوا","وَ-شَدُّوا-","وَأَسْرَجَ"]·ben["আমি-জিন-দেব-","এবং-জিন-চড়াল","এবং-জিন-জোড়াল","এবং-জিন-পরাল","এবং-সাজাল","এবং-সাজাল-","এবং-সাজালেন","ও-জিন-দিলেন","বোঝাই-করা","বোঝাই-দেওয়া","সাজাও-"]·DE["ich-wird-saddle","saddle-","saddled","und-er-saddled","und-er-saddled-","und-saddled","und-sattelte","und-sie-saddled","und-sie-saddled-"]·EN["I-will-saddle","and-he-saddled","and-he-saddled-","and-saddled","and-she-saddled","and-they-saddled","and-they-saddled-","saddle-","saddled"]·FR["et-elle-saddled","et-il-saddled","et-il-saddled-","et-ils-saddled","et-ils-saddled-","et-saddled","je-fera-saddle","saddle-","saddled"]·heb["אחבשה","ו-חבש","ו-חבשה","ו-יחבוש","ו-יחבושו","ו-יחבש","ו-יחבשו","חבושים","חבשו"]·HI["और-कसा","और-कसा-","और-कसी","और-कसे","कसूँगा","कसे-हुए","कसो-","बंधे-हुए"]·ID["Dan-ia-memasang-pelana","akan-aku-seruduk-","dan-dia-menyeruduk","dan-memakaikan-pelana","dan-memasang-pelana","dan-mempelanai-","dan-mereka-mempelanai","dan-mereka-mempelanai-","dikendarai","pelanalah-","yang-berpelana"]·IT["e-egli-sellò","e-egli-sellò-","e-ella-sellò","e-essi-sellò","e-essi-sellò-","e-saddled","io-vorrà-sella","saddled","sella-","sellò"]·jav["Lan-napelan-pelana","Lan-ngènyang","dipun-sadelani","ingkang-dipun-sadani","kula-badhe-nyandani","lan-dipunpasangi-pelana","lan-dipunpasangi-pelana-","lan-masang-pelana","lan-nyandani","pasangana-pelana-"]·KO["그리고-안장-지웠다","그리고-안장을-얹었다","그리고-안장을-얹었다-","그리고-안장을-지웠다","그리고-채웠다","안장-놓으리라-","안장을-얹어라-","짐-실린","짐-실은"]·PT["E-selou","albardados","e-selaram","e-selaram-","e-selou","e-selou-","encilharei","selados","selai-"]·RU["и-оседлал","и-оседлал-","и-оседлала","и-оседлали","и-оседлали-","оседлайте-","оседланных","оседлаю-","осёдланных"]·ES["Y-ensilló","aparejados","enalbardad","ensillados","ensillaré-","y-enalbardaron","y-enalbardó","y-ensillar","y-ensilló"]·SW["na-akampandikia","na-akatandika","na-wakampandikia","na-wakapandika","nijitandike","panda-tandiko","waliobeba-mizigo","waliotandikwa"]·TR["eyer-vurulmuş","eyerleyeyim-","eyerleyin-","eğerlenmiş","ve-eyerledi","ve-eyerledi-","ve-eyerlediler","ve-eyerlediler-"]·urd["اور-باندھا","اور-باندھا-","اور-پالان-کسا","اور-کاٹھی-کسی","اور-کسا","باندھو-","میں-کاٹھی-کسوں-گا","پلانیں","پلانے-والے"]
Gen 22:3, Num 22:21, Judg 19:10, 2 Sam 16:1, 2 Sam 17:23, 2 Sam 19:26, 1 Kgs 2:40, 1 Kgs 13:13, 1 Kgs 13:13, 1 Kgs 13:23, 1 Kgs 13:27, 1 Kgs 13:27 (+1 more)
2. bind up wounds — To bind up wounds, bandage injuries, or heal brokenness — 12 occurrences, spanning literal medical care and prophetic metaphor. Job 5:18 declares God 'wounds but also binds up'; Psalm 147:3 celebrates God as the one who 'binds up the brokenhearted'; Isaiah 1:6 laments wounds 'not bound up'; and Hosea 6:1 trusts that God 'will bind us up.' The priestly investiture in Exodus 29:9 may also belong here (binding turbans on Aaron's sons). Spanish vendar ('to bandage') and French bander/panser consistently select medical vocabulary, while the theological usage transforms physical healing into a metaphor for national and spiritual restoration. Ezekiel 34:4 indicts Israel's shepherds for failing to 'bind up the injured.' 12×
AR["أَعْصِبُ","تَعْصِبُونَ","تُعصَب","تُعَصَّبْ","لِ-أُعَصِّبَ","لِلرَّبْطِ","مُدَاوِيًا","وَ-تُعَصِّبُ","وَالمُضَمِّدُ","وَيَضُمُّ","وَيَعصِبُنا","يَعْصِبُ"]·ben["আমি-বাঁধব","এবং-তুমি-বাঁধবে","এবং-বেঁধে-দেন","এবং-বেঁধে-দেবেন-আমাদের","ও-বাঁধেন","তোমরা-বেঁধেছ","বাঁধতে","বাঁধতে-তাকে","বাঁধবেন","বাঁধা","বাঁধা-হয়েছে","সুস্থকারী"]·DE["[אחבש]","[ויחבש]","[ויחבשנו]","[חבש]","[חבשה]","[חבשו]","[חבשתם]","[לחבש]","[לחבשה]","und-binding-up","und-du-soll-binden"]·EN["I-will-bind-up","and-He-will-bind-us","and-binding-up","and-binds-up","and-you-shall-bind","binds-up","bound-up","healer","it-has-been-bound-up","to-bind-it-up","to-bind-up","you-bandaged"]·FR["[חבש]","[חבשו]","[לחבש]","et-bander","et-de-bander","et-lier","et-tu---lier","lier"]·heb["אחבוש","ו-חבשת","ו-יחבוש","ו-יחבשנו","ו-מחבש","חבוש","חבשתם","חובש","חובשה","חובשו","ל-חבוש","ל-חבשה"]·HI["और-बाँधता-है","और-बाँधना","और-बाँधनेवाला","और-बाँधेगा-हमें","चंगा-करनेवाला","नहीं","बांधता-है","बांधने-को","बांधा-गया","बांधी-गई","मुझे","मैं-चंगा-करूँगा"]·ID["akan-Aku-balut,","dan-akan-membalut-kita","dan-engkau-akan-mengikatkan","dan-membalut","dibalut","kamu-balut,","membalut","penyembuh","untuk-membalut","untuk-membalutnya"]·IT["a-fasciare","e-e-binds-su","e-fasciare","e-fascio'","e-tu-shall-legare","fasciare"]·jav["Ingsun-bebat","dipunbebat","juru-tamba","kabalut","kangge-mbalut","kangge-nambani","lan-Panjenenganipun-mbalut-kita","lan-ingkang-mbebat","lan-ngembon","lan-panjenengan-pasang","nambani","panjenengan-bebat"]·KO["감싸였다-그것이","감으려고-그것을","그리고-매신다","그리고-싸매시는-분이시라","그리고-싸매시리라-우리를","그리고-씬우라","내가-묶으리라","너희가-묶지","싸매고","싸매기-위해","싸매시는","치료자가"]·PT["atar","atarei","atastes","curandeiro","e-amarrarás","e-enfaixa","e-nos-atará","foi-enfaixado","foram-enfaixadas","para-curar","para-enfaixá-lo"]·RU["и-надень","и-перевяжет-нас","и-перевязывает","и-перевязывающий","перевяжу","перевязана","перевязаны","перевязать","перевязать-её","перевязывали","перевязывать-чтобы","перевязывающим"]·ES["fue-vendado","para-vendar","para-vendarlo","sanador","vendadas","vendar","vendaré,","vendasteis,","y-atarás","y-nos-vendará","y-venda","y-vendando"]·SW["fungwa","kuufunga","kuwafunga","mfunga-vidonda","na-anafunga","na-atatufunga","na-kufunga","na-utawafunga","nitafunga","wafunga","wala","ya-kufunga"]·TR["saracağım","saran","sardigi","sardınız","sarmak-icin-","sarmak-için-onu","sarıldı","ve-saracacaksın","ve-saracak-bizi","ve-saran","ve-sarıyor"]·urd["اور-باندھنے-والا","اور-تو-باندھے-گا","اور-پٹی-باندھتا-ہے","اور-پٹی-باندھے-گا-ہمیں","باندھا-تم-نے","باندھنے-والا","باندھنے-کو","باندھنے-کو-اُسے","باندھوں-گا","باندھی-گئی","باندھے-گئے","باندھے-گا"]
3. bind or tie — To bind, tie, or fasten in a general sense — 4 occurrences covering miscellaneous binding actions. In Leviticus 8:13, Moses binds headbands on Aaron's sons during priestly installation. Job 40:13 commands binding faces in the dust (humiliation). Ezekiel 24:17 instructs the prophet not to bind on his turban (mourning prohibition), and Ezekiel 27:24 describes Tyre's merchants binding cords. Spanish atar ('to tie') and French lier ('to bind') both use generic fastening vocabulary, marking this as the undifferentiated physical root sense from which the specialized saddling and bandaging senses developed. 4×
AR["ارْبِطْ","لُفَّ","مَرْبُوطَةٍ","وَ-شَدَّ"]·ben["এবং-সে-বাঁধল","বন্ধন-করো","বাঁধ","বাঁধা"]·DE["[חבוש]","[חבש]","[חבשים]","und-band"]·EN["and-bound","bind","bound"]·FR["bander","et-lia","lier"]·heb["ו-יחבש","חבוש","חבושים"]·HI["और-बाँधी","बंधे-हुए","बाँध"]·ID["dan-memasangkan","ikatkanlah","ikatlah","terikat"]·IT["bind","e-lego","fasciare"]·jav["gulunga","ingkang-dipun-bungkus","kebat-ana","lan-nganggekaken"]·KO["그리고-씼웠다","두르여라","묶어라","묶인"]·PT["amarra","amarradas","e-atou"]·RU["завяжи","и-обвязал","свитыми","твою"]·ES["ata","atadas","y-ató"]·SW["funga","na-akawafunga","zilizofungwa"]·TR["bağlanmış","sar","ve-bağladı"]·urd["اور-باندھے","باندھ","بندھی"]
4. wrap or swathe — To wrap or swathe with cloth — 2 occurrences where the emphasis is on enveloping rather than mere tying. In Ezekiel 16:10, God tenderly reminisces about wrapping infant Jerusalem in fine linen; in Jonah 2:5, seaweed 'was wrapped' around the prophet's head in the depths of the sea. Spanish ceñir ('to gird/wrap') and envolver ('to envelop') both capture the encircling motion, while French lier is more generic. The wrapping sense is close to sense 3 but the emphasis on complete enclosure or swaddling distinguishes it — these are not knots but enveloping layers. 2×
AR["مَلْفُوفٌ","وَحَزَمْتُكِ"]·ben["আর-বাঁধলাম-তোমাকে","মোড়ানো"]·DE["[ואחבשך]","[חבוש]"]·EN["and-I-wrapped-you","was-wrapped"]·FR["et-lier","lier"]·heb["ו-אחבושך","חבוש"]·HI["और-बाँधा-तुझे-मैंने","लिपटी-थी"]·ID["dan-Aku-membalutmu","terbungkus"]·IT["e-fasciare","fasciare"]·jav["lan-Aku-ngiketaken-panjenengan","ngiket"]·KO["감겼나이다","그리고-내가-감았다-너를"]·PT["e-cingi-te","enrolada"]·RU["и-повязал-Я-тебя","обвиты"]·ES["envuelta","y-te-ceñí"]·SW["na-nikakufunga","ulifungwa"]·TR["sarıldı","seni"]·urd["اور-مَیں-نے-باندھا-تجھے","بندھی-ہوئی"]
5. sense 5 — To dam or restrain (water) — a single occurrence at Job 28:11, where the miner 'dams up' the sources of rivers to expose hidden treasures. Spanish detuvo ('he stopped/restrained') and English 'he dammed' both select restraint-of-flow vocabulary. The metaphorical leap from binding an object to blocking a watercourse is natural — the same physical action of securing and containing, applied to water rather than animals or wounds. This mining context is unique in the Hebrew Bible. 1×
AR["سَدَّ"]·ben["সে-বেঁধেছে"]·DE["[חבש]"]·EN["he-dammed"]·FR["bander"]·heb["חבש"]·HI["वह-बाँधता-है"]·ID["ia-membendung"]·IT["he-dammed"]·jav["piyambak-ipun-mbendung"]·KO["막았다"]·PT["represou"]·RU["перегораживает"]·ES["detuvo"]·SW["aliimarisha"]·TR["bağladı"]·urd["باندھا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [חָבַשׁ] vb. bind, bind on, bind up (NH id.; Assyrian abâšu, according to DlW 70, Pr 174; Arabic حَبَسَ confine, restrict; yet on Assyrian ḫibšu ‘Kopfbinde’ (c. חֿ), etc., v. ZehnpfundBAS i. 499, 526; Aramaic ܚܒܰܫ; cf. ܚܒܽܘܫܝܳܐ, חֲבוּשְׁיָא imprisonment, etc.)— Qal Pf. 2 ms. וְחָבַשְׁתָּ֫ Ex 29:9; 2 mpl. חֲבַשְׁתֶּם Ez 34:4; Impf. יַחֲבוֹשׁ Jb 34:17; וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ Gn 22:3 + 4 times; וִיַּחֲבָשׁ־…