cha.sakh describes holding something back, restraining an action or utterance, or keeping someone from a harmful outcome.

The attested use most often concerns holding back something that might be given, released, or allowed; it also describes restraint of speech, movement, or action, and keeping a person from sin, evil, or death.

1. Withholding what could be given or released · dominant

   Qal perfect and participial clauses describe keeping back a son, possessions, discipline, or other expected provision. In Genesis 22:12 the APB renders the clause "you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me," while Proverbs 11:24 contrasts scattering with withholding beyond what is right.

   Genesis 22:12Genesis 22:16Genesis 39:92 Kings 5:20Proverbs 11:24Proverbs 13:24
2. Restraining speech, movement, or action · common

   The verb marks stopping or refusing an action: Joab holds the people back from pursuit in 2 Samuel 18:16, and the jussive clauses in Isaiah 54:2 and Isaiah 58:1 prohibit holding back. In Proverbs 10:19 and Proverbs 17:27, Qal active participles characterize the person who restrains lips or words.

   2 Samuel 18:16Isaiah 54:2Isaiah 58:1Job 7:11Proverbs 10:19Proverbs 17:27
3. Keeping from sin, evil, or death · occasional

   The verb can describe preventing exposure to a harmful result. In Genesis 20:6 the APB renders God as having "withheld you from sinning against me," and in Job 33:18 it renders the action as keeping a soul from the pit; Psalm 78:50 states the contrasting refusal to withhold their soul from death.

   Genesis 20:61 Samuel 25:39Job 33:18Psalm 78:50

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB uses such wording as "withheld," "restrain," "hold back," "keeps," and "reserved." Because the APB is a translation of whole verses, these terms only indicate the surrounding clause's presentation.