A Hebrew verb meaning to withhold, restrain, hold back, spare, keep back. It describes the act of deliberately restraining oneself or holding something back. Used in contexts of divine mercy (God sparing judgment), human self-control, and the withholding of punishment or resources.
This word carries profound theological weight in Genesis 22:12, where God tells Abraham, 'You have not withheld (chasak) your son, your only son, from Me.' This becomes a typological foreshadowing of the Father not sparing His own Son (Romans 8:32). The concept of divine restraint — God choosing to withhold judgment — is central to understanding grace. In Proverbs, it appears in wisdom literature about disciplining children and controlling one's tongue, connecting restraint to wisdom and love.