H2532b H2532b
desirable, precious things; choice objects or garments valued for their worth
This noun denotes desirable or precious things—objects, garments, or persons valued for their worth and attractiveness. The plural form can refer to choice garments (Genesis 27:15), precious treasures and vessels (Ezra 8:27, 2 Chronicles 20:25), desirable food (Daniel 10:3), or even to persons who are highly valued (Daniel 9:23, 10:11, 10:19). The root sense is 'that which is desired or treasured,' with specific meaning determined by context. The term emphasizes subjective value—what is precious in someone's eyes.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Desirable or precious things, whether objects or persons. Genesis 27:15 uses it of Esau's 'choice garments' that Rebekah took for Jacob. Ezra 8:27 employs it for 'precious' vessels 'as precious as gold.' The word can describe valued items (garments, vessels, food) or valued persons (Daniel's designation as a 'precious treasure' or 'greatly loved one'). The multilingual evidence shows both object-focused translations ('preciosos,' 'precious,' 'kostbaren') and quality-focused ones ('desirable,' 'preciados'), capturing the dual nuance of objective worth and subjective value. 2×
AR["الفاخِرَةِ", "ثَمِينَة"]·ben["মূল্যবান"]·DE["[חמודת]", "die-kostbaren"]·EN["precious", "the-desirable"]·FR["[חמודת]", "le-desirable"]·heb["ה-חמדת", "חמודת"]·HI["बहुमूल्य"]·ID["berharga", "yang-berharga"]·IT["[חמודת]", "il-desirable"]·jav["ingkang-éndah", "kang-endah"]·KO["귀한"]·PT["as-preciosas", "preciosos"]·RU["драгоценных", "лучшие"]·ES["los-preciados", "preciosos"]·SW["vya-thamani", "za-thamani"]·TR["-değerli", "degerli"]·urd["قیمتی", "پسندیدہ"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [חֲמוּדָה] n.f. desirableness, preciousness—Pl. abs. חֲמוּדוֹת Dn 9:23; חֲמוּדֹת Ezr 8:37; חֲמֻדוֹת 2 Ch 20:25 + 4 times; חֲמֻדֹת Gn 27:15; cstr. חֲמֻדוֹת Dn 11:43;—desirable, choice things i.e. garments Gn 27:15 (‖ בגדים); cf. Dn 11:38 (‖ אבן יקרה), 11:43 (חֲמֻדוֹת מִצְרַיִם); = precious things Ezr 8:27 (as gold); כלי ח׳ 2 Ch 20:25; לֶחֶם ח׳ Dn 10:3; of man only אִיֹשׁ־ח׳ Dn 10:11, 19, and,…