Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #37 - A Refuge of Hope

We are now coming to the last of the Hebrew synonyms for "hope" found in the Old Testament, the verb "hasa" and its noun derivative "mahseh" (Strong's # 2620,4268; Wordbook #700).  Gesenius in his Hebrew Lexicon states that the word "hasa" properly means "to flee ... especially to take refuge, to flee somewhere for refuge ... hence to trust someone, especially in God" (emphasis mine).  Both Strong's Concordance and The Theological Wordbook compare "hasa" with our previous synonym "batah" by stating that "hasa" expresses "more precipitate action", that is, both express the idea of seeking for protection and safety but "hasa" is the stronger term denoting a greater sense of urgency and danger.  The Wordbook notes that "'To seek refuge' stresses the insecurity and self-helplessness of even the strongest of men" (emphasis mine). Thus this word is used in various contexts of men in desperate situations:  of seeking shelter in times of battle, of fugitives in exile, of those caught outside in storms, and even of criminals fleeing into the Temple to escape revenge.  There are two names found in the Old Testament based on these words:  Hosah (meaning a refuge) - I Chronicles 16:38; 26:10 (a Levite); Joshua 19:29 (a town); and Maaseiah (meaning the LORD is a Refuge) - Jeremiah 32:12; 51:59 (a relative of an official in Jerusalem).  Like the previous synonym "batah", "hasa" may also be translated by the word "trust" (See Psalm 2:12; 5:11; 7:1; 25:20; 31:1; 37:40; etc.).  In fact it is translated in the King James Version as "trust" some 34 times (that I could find), but as "hope" only three times. We sometimes find this word translated in its more literal sense of seeking for or of finding a physical refuge or shelter.  For example:  

Job 24:8 - "They (the oppressed) are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter."

Psalm 104:18 - "The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies."

And this concept is naturally carried over to the idea of the believer finding spiritual shelter and refuge in God:

Psalm 57:1 - "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."  According to the title of this Psalm, David composed these words when he was forced to hide from Saul in a cave.  The cave afforded him some physical protection and refuge from the elements and from his enemy, but the LORD was the true Source of his protection and safety.  This is a favorite theme in the Psalms:

God is the believer's Refuge (Psalm 14:6; 46:1; 62:8; 91:9); Shelter (Psalm 61:3); and Fortress (Psalm 91:2).  With this root idea in mind of "finding refuge in times of trouble" we may now take a look at the few verses where this word is translated as "hope" in the King James Version:

Proverbs 14:32 - "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death."

Jeremiah 17:17 - "Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil."

Joel 3:16 - "The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

We will attempt to consider the contexts and implications of these three passages in our next post, but for now we will simply note that the Lord is the Refuge of His people in all times of danger and distress.  To Him we may safely flee and find Him to be a Safe Retreat - A Refuge of Hope!