חָסָה

Deuteronomy 32:37 חָסָ֥יוּ [which] they sought refuge

He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,

Judges 9:15 חֲס֣וּ take refuge

But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

Here: 'Shelter, take cover.' The word for fleeing to a protector for safety, often used of trusting God as a refuge. Here a scrubby bush offers itself as that protector.

Ruth 2:12 לַחֲס֥וֹת to take refuge

May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”

Here: 'To take shelter': the physical act of getting under cover from danger. It is a key word of the Psalms of refuge. Here it describes a vulnerable foreign widow putting herself under Israel's God for protection.

2 Samuel 22:3 אֶחֱסֶה־ [whom] I take refuge

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.

Here: 'I take refuge': I run to him for shelter. The verb describes an action, fleeing to a protector the way someone runs into a shelter. It is not only an inner feeling of confidence. The form can describe what David habitually does or will do.

2 Samuel 22:31 הַחֹסִ֥ים those [who] seek refuge

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Here: A participle, 'the ones sheltering', describing people who habitually run to God for cover, as one runs to a rock, a stronghold or the shade of wings. Verse 3 has already called God 'my rock, in whom I take refuge'.

Psalm 2:12 ח֥וֹסֵי [those who] seek refuge

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Here: 'Those who shelter.' The picture is of running to a protected place, like a crag, a fortress, or under a bird's wings. Rebels are invited to shelter under the power they were resisting.

Psalm 5:11 ח֪וֹסֵי [those who] seek refuge

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

Here: A participle (a verb used like a noun): 'the refuge-takers,' people whose habit is to run to God for shelter. The picture is physical: someone fleeing into a shelter, a rock cleft or the shade of wings. It is not first of all an inner mental state.

Psalm 7:1 חָסִ֑יתִי I have sought refuge

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

Here: A picture word: to run for cover, to get under shelter (as under shade or wings). The form describes a completed act with ongoing result — "I have taken shelter and am now sheltering" — hence "I take refuge."

Psalm 11:1 חָסִ֗יתִי I have taken refuge

For the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

Here: A completed action whose result still holds: 'I have taken shelter, and I am there now.' The picture is spatial, someone who has already run into a protected place. That is why the advice to run somewhere else sounds absurd.

Psalm 16:1 חָסִ֥יתִי I have taken refuge

A Miktam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.

Here: A verb of completed action: 'I have taken shelter.' The psalmist has already fled to God and is standing under God's protection now. The word paints running to a shelter: a rock, a stronghold, the shadow of wings.

Psalm 17:7 חוֹסִ֑ים of [those who] take refuge

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

Here: 'Those who are taking shelter': people who have run to God the way one runs to a stronghold or under a protecting wing. The picture leads into 'the shadow of your wings' in verse 8.

Psalm 18:2 אֶֽחֱסֶה־ [whom] I take refuge

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Here: 'I take refuge.' It describes the act of running into shelter. The verb form shows an ongoing or habitual action: this is what the singer does, again and again. There is no 'whom' in the Hebrew. The clause simply hangs off 'my rock': 'my rock, I shelter in him.'

Psalm 18:30 הַחֹסִ֬ים those [who] take refuge

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Here: Literally "the ones taking shelter", a picture of people running for cover into a stronghold or under a protector's wing. It echoes v. 2, "my rock, in whom I take refuge."

Psalm 25:20 חָסִ֥יתִי I have taken refuge

Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.

Here: "I have taken refuge." The verb form describes something already done: he has fled to God for cover and is now sheltering there. The picture is of running into a stronghold or under a bird's wings.

Psalm 31:1 חָ֭סִיתִי I have taken refuge

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.

Here: A completed action whose result still holds: 'I have fled to you for shelter and I am sheltering there now.' The picture is physical. You run for cover into a stronghold or under a bird's wings, and you are not only holding an inner attitude of confidence.

Psalm 31:19 לַחֹסִ֣ים for <the> [those who] take refuge

How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!

Here: 'For those taking shelter': people who run to God for protection the way someone runs to a rock, a stronghold, or under a bird's wings. This picks up the psalm's opening, 'In you, LORD, I have taken refuge' (v. 1).

Psalm 34:8 יֶחֱסֶה־ [who] he takes refuge

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Here: 'Takes refuge', 'shelters'. It pictures running to a safe place, such as a rock, a stronghold, or under a bird's wings. The verb form describes what this person habitually does.

Psalm 34:22 הַחֹסִ֥ים those [who] take refuge

The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Here: A participle with the article: 'the refuge-takers.' The picture is concrete: running to a shelter, a stronghold, or under a bird's wings. It names a habit and a position, not just a feeling of confidence.

Psalm 36:7 יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃ they take refuge !

How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!

Here: "They take shelter," a physical act of running to cover. The verb form describes something ongoing or habitual: this is what people keep doing. The extra -ûn ending is an older, fuller form found in poetry, and it gives the line a ringing close.

Psalm 37:40 חָ֥סוּ they have taken refuge

The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

Here: 'They have taken shelter.' The picture is someone running under cover from danger. The verb form presents this as something they have already done, and it is the ground for God's help.

Psalm 57:1 חָסָ֪יָה אֶחְסֶ֑ה it takes refuge, I take refuge

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.

Here: "Has taken refuge." This verb form often describes something already done: the speaker has already run to God for cover and is now sheltering there. The feminine ending agrees with nefesh, which is a feminine noun in Hebrew.

Psalm 61:4 אֶֽחֱסֶ֨ה let me take refuge

Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Here: 'Let me take refuge.' It parallels the wish form of the first verb, so it carries a wish too. It is an act of running to cover, the picture of a hunted person or a chick darting under a wing. It is more than an inner attitude of confidence.

Psalm 64:10 וְחָ֣סָה and he will take refuge

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult.

Here: A spatial picture: running to a protected place, ducking under cover. The verb form carries on the mood of the first verb ('and will take refuge / and let him take refuge'). It answers the psalmist's opening cry 'hide me' (v. 2) and the plotters' ambushes from hiding (vv. 4–5).

Psalm 71:1 חָסִ֑יתִי I have taken refuge

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

Here: A picture word: to run for cover and stay sheltered. The verb form describes something already done that still holds. The speaker has already fled to God and is still there, so the plea that follows rests on that act.

Psalm 91:4 תֶּחְסֶ֑ה you will take refuge

He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.

Here: "You will take refuge": an act, not just a feeling. It is the movement of running into shelter. The same word supplies the nouns 'refuge' in verses 2 and 9.

Psalm 118:8 לַחֲס֥וֹת to take refuge

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Here: 'To take refuge', a verbal noun with the preposition 'to'. The picture is someone in danger running into a shelter: a rock, a stronghold, the shadow of wings. It is an act done under threat, not only an inner attitude.

Psalm 118:9 לַחֲס֥וֹת to take refuge

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Psalm 141:8 חָ֝סִ֗יתִי I take refuge

But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.

Here: 'I have taken shelter' or 'I shelter.' The verb pictures fleeing into a protected place. The completed form means the psalmist has already run to God and is now inside the shelter. It is something done, not only a feeling.

Psalm 144:2 חָסִ֑יתִי I take refuge

He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Here: 'I have taken refuge.' This is a completed action: the speaker has already run to God for cover and stays there. Chasiti also echoes chasdi at the head of the verse, so the verse opens with 'my Loyal Love' and comes back to it with 'I took shelter'.

Proverbs 14:32 וְחֹסֶ֖ה and [is] seeking refuge

The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

Here: This form of the verb describes an ongoing state: the righteous person is someone who "shelters" somewhere. In the Psalms the word is almost always used for running to God for protection. It pictures a person under cover while danger is outside.

Proverbs 30:5 לַֽחֹסִ֥ים for <the> [those who] take refuge

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Here: 'For those taking shelter.' The participle describes people who habitually run to God for cover, the way someone runs under a rock, into shade, or under a bird's wings.

Isaiah 14:32 יֶחֱס֖וּ they will take refuge

What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”

Here: The physical act of running into shelter: under a rock, into a stronghold, under a bird's wings. The imperfect form can mean "will take refuge" or "take refuge" as a regular habit.

Isaiah 30:2 וְלַחְס֖וֹת and to seek refuge

They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

Here: "And to take shelter." This is the Psalms' word for taking refuge in God ('in the shadow of your wings I take refuge,' Ps 57:1). Judah is using worship language for a foreign king.

Isaiah 57:13 וְהַחוֹסֶ֥ה and the [one who] takes refuge

When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”

Here: 'But the one taking refuge.' The form describes an ongoing action or a habit: the person who keeps running to God for shelter. The speaker also switches from 'you' (the community as a woman) to 'whoever', so the promise is open to each person who shelters in God.

Nahum 1:7 חֹ֥סֵי [those who] take refuge

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.

Here: 'Those taking refuge', 'the shelter-seekers'. It is the picture of people fleeing into cover, which fits the 'stronghold' of the first line. Often translated 'trust', but the Hebrew is concrete: running to a protector.

Zephaniah 3:12 וְחָס֖וּ and they will take refuge

But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

Here: 'And they will take shelter': a physical picture of running into a protected place. It reverses 3:2, where Jerusalem 'did not trust in the LORD'.