trust

Distinctions

bitachon (בטחון) and machseh (מחסה)

Malbim: betach/bitachon is an emotional state, confidence about a successful future and peace with oneself, specifically inner serenity in the face of turmoil; always positive, the opposite of harried insecurity; it says nothing of what one does about it. Machseh is one who actively lives by his bitachon. The Vilna Gaon (Biur HaGra to Mishlei 14:26) divides by the ground of the confidence: bitachon is trust that Hashem will do what He promised; machseh is trust in Him even where He promised nothing, and it is better to have machseh in Hashem than bitachon in a human patron's explicit word (Tehillim 118:9). Rabbi Shlomo Pappenheim: machseh is from ח-ס, as in chas v'shalom, caring enough to preserve from destruction; to take Hashem as machseh is to rely on His caring.

tikvah (תקוה), tocheles (תוחלת), chikui (חכוי)

Wertheimer: all three mean waiting, graded by certainty. Tocheles (verb yachel): one relies on it coming but not wholeheartedly; hence yachel Yisrael (Tehillim 130:7), for our sins may block what we await. Tikvah: one relies wholly on the fulfilment, though he cannot say it is certain. Chikui: one is sure it will happen and is only waiting. Pappenheim: tikvah is from ק-ו, kav, a straight line (the builder's cord; the rope of Yehoshua 2:18; the mikveh into which waters run straight, Bereishis 1:9-10); hope sees a straight line from now to the anticipated end.

semichah (סמיכה), mishan (משען), saad (סעד)

Somech is "next to," hence leaning. Malbim, from Chagigah 16b (one leans on the korban with all his weight): semichah is leaning with all one's might, mishan only partly. Pappenheim: mishan is from ש-ע, enjoyment (with sha'ashua, yeshuah, shav'ah): the satisfaction of being supported; a mishenes is the walking-stick. Somech is leaning by choice (Moshe on Yehoshua, Devarim 34:9; Yisrael on the Leviim, Bamidbar 8:10), mishan leaning because one is too weak to stand alone. Malbim: saad is holding up an inanimate thing so it does not fall, so also a patron's support of a beneficiary who does not know of it; mishan is a beneficiary who knowingly relies on another, usually Hashem (Michah 3:11). Pappenheim: saad is the act of helping one who needs mishan (so soed, refreshing with food, Bereishis 18:5, Tehillim 104:15; seudah). Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel: saad is best "helps," for the beneficiary also contributes to his own betterment.

sever (שבר) and kesel (כסל)

Peirush HaRokeach: sever is spelled like shever, food; men look to Hashem in hope and He gives them their food (Tehillim 145:15). Wertheimer: sever is strong trust that grows from recognising Hashem as creator and sustainer of all. Kesel shares its root with kesil, fool. Malbim: in tikvah one awaits a good; in kesel one is sure, with almost foolish naivety, that no harm will come. Rabbi Moshe Wolfson: to rely on Hashem wholly one must be willing to look foolish; such a fool walks in the light, not the dark (Koheles 2:14), and Kislev is the month for it.

Rendering guidance

• בטחון: "trust" (in a mussar text keep bitachon transliterated once the term is established). בטח as adverb: "securely," "in safety."
• מחסה: "refuge," "shelter"; לחסות בה׳: "to take refuge in Hashem." Do not write "trust" for it beside בטח (Tehillim 118:9 sets them against each other).
• תקוה: "hope"; תוחלת: "expectation," "waiting hope"; חכוי / מחכה: "awaiting," "waiting for."
• סמיכה / סומך: "leaning," "leans on"; משען / נשען: "support," "relies on"; סעד / סועד: "support," "sustains," "helps" (Tzuriel).
• שבר / משבר: "look to in hope"; כסל: "assurance," "confidence" (Mishlei 3:26).
• Trap: English "trust" (and "rely") absorbs at least six of these. When a text lists them (the ten of Chovos HaLevavos; a pasuk with two, like Tehillim 71:1 or 118:9), give each its own English and keep the author's order; where the order is a ladder (Wertheimer's tocheles < tikvah < chikui), make it climb in English too.

Sources

Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein, "Trusting and Relying on G-d," What's in a Word?, Ohr Somayach, 9 Elul 5780 (2020-08-29): raw text in sources/whats-in-a-word/raw/8836-trusting-and-relying-on-g-d.md; republished 14 Elul 5782 (2022-09-10) with the same text: raw text in sources/whats-in-a-word/raw/9877-trusting-and-relying-on-g-d-2.md. Primary loci the article cites: Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon (close); Yeshayahu 26:4, 30:18, 64:3; Yirmiyahu 17:7; Tehillim 3:6, 18:19, 18:36, 20:3, 27:14, 38:16, 41:4, 71:1, 71:6, 118:9, 130:7, 145:15, 146:5; Mishlei 3:26, 14:26 with Biur HaGra; Chagigah 16b; Devarim 34:9; Bamidbar 8:10; Michah 3:11; Yehoshua 2:18; Koheles 2:14.