← Back to Lexicon
H986 · Hebrew · Old Testament
בִּטָּחוֹן
bittachon
Noun, masculine
trust, confidence, assurance

Definition

Bittachon (בִּטָּחוֹן) is the abstract noun form of the root batach, expressing the state or quality of trust, confidence, and assured reliance. While bitchah (H985) tends toward the personal feeling of security, bittachon often describes confidence in a source — whether misplaced in human power or rightly placed in God. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible but carries enormous weight in later Jewish theology, where bittachon became central to discussions of faith and divine dependence.

Usage & Theological Significance

Rabbinic and medieval Jewish theologians elevated bittachon to a primary virtue. Bachya ibn Paquda (11th century) devoted an entire section of Duties of the Heart to it, distinguishing bittachon (active trust in God's provision) from mere emunah (belief). In the Bible, Isaiah mocks the false bittachon of Assyrian soldiers who boast in their military might, contrasting it with the true confidence available only through YHWH.

Key Bible Verses

2 Kings 18:19 What is this confidence [bittachon] you are depending on?
Isaiah 36:4 What is this confidence [bittachon] you have? You say you have the counsel and might for war.
Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Related Words

External Resources

🌙
☀️