Hebrew word · H5233

נֶ֫כֶס

binkhasim

wealth

Possessions, property, assets, treasure. It is a late word found in Josh 22:8, Eccl 5:19 (Heb 5:18), 6:2 and 2 Chr 1:11–12. It is related to Aramaic nikhsin, 'goods, property' (Ezra 6:8; 7:26), and probably to Akkadian nikkassu, 'accounts, assets'.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

riches, treasures

Aramaic equivalent: ne.khas (נְכַס "wealth" H5232)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Chronicles 1:12

Range of meaning

Possessions, property, assets, treasure. It is a late word found in Josh 22:8, Eccl 5:19 (Heb 5:18), 6:2 and 2 Chr 1:11–12. It is related to Aramaic nikhsin, 'goods, property' (Ezra 6:8; 7:26), and probably to Akkadian nikkassu, 'accounts, assets'.

Against the English

English versions spread 'riches' and 'wealth' across the two Hebrew words in different ways (BSB 'riches and wealth', NIV-type 'wealth, possessions'). Either way, the pair is meant to sound like total material abundance, not two different kinds of money.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Ecclesiastes 5–6 the same pairing, 'osher u-nekhasim', describes a person God gives 'riches and possessions' and who may or may not be able to enjoy them. It was the stock phrase of the late period.

From the study of Joshua 22:8

Range of meaning

Wealth, possessions, property in general. It always appears in the plural in Hebrew.

Against the English

'Riches' (KJV, YLT) and 'wealth' (BSB, WEB) are both accurate. English can't show how rare and late the word is.

Used elsewhere in the period

Outside this verse it appears in Hebrew only in late books: Ecclesiastes 5:19 and 6:2, and 2 Chronicles 1:11–12, where God gives Solomon 'wealth, riches and honor'. It is common in Aramaic, both in the Bible (Ezra 6:8; 7:26) and outside it, and in later rabbinic Hebrew (נְכָסִים, 'property, estate'). HALOT treats it as a word borrowed from Aramaic or Akkadian (Akkadian nikkassu, 'accounts, assets').

Where it appears

Joshua · 1

  1. Joshua 22:8 בִּנְכָסִ֨ים with riches

    saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

    Here: Wealth or possessions in general. The word is rare in Hebrew and mostly found in late books, which is why scholars notice it here. It comes first in the sentence, so the stress falls on it: 'With great wealth, go home!'

2 Chronicles · 2

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:11 נְכָסִ֤ים riches

    God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or honor for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—

  2. 2 Chronicles 1:12 וּנְכָסִ֤ים and riches

    therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”

    Here: A late word, shared with Aramaic, for property and assets: goods, holdings, treasure. Next to 'osher it makes the wealth sound complete.

Ecclesiastes · 2

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:19 וּנְכָסִ֜ים and riches

    Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

    Here: Property and assets. A late word, Aramaic-influenced and used in legal and economic writing. The same pair, 'riches and possessions', is used of Solomon's wealth in 2 Chronicles 1:11–12, which fits the royal persona Qoheleth takes on.

  2. Ecclesiastes 6:2 וּנְכָסִ֨ים and riches

    God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

    Here: "And possessions": things you own, such as goods, flocks and property. It is a late word with Aramaic links, found mostly in late books.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.