חֶדְוָה
𐤇𐤃𐤅𐤄
chedvâh
H2305 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or feeling of gladness, cheerfulness, or joy, often associated with celebration or a sense of well-being. In biblical usage, חֶדְוָה primarily denotes an emotional response of delight or festive gladness, particularly in communal or worshipful settings.
Semantic Range
joy, gladness, rejoicing, cheerfulness, festivity, emotional well-being
Root / Etymology
From the root חדו (חָדָה), meaning 'to rejoice, be glad.' The feminine noun form חֶדְוָה derives from this root, expressing an abstract or collective quality of gladness or joy rather than an individual act of rejoicing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֶדְוָה appears only in post-exilic texts, specifically in Nehemiah 8:10 during the Persian period, reflecting the vocabulary of Late Biblical Hebrew. Its occurrence is associated with communal worship and instruction, representing a positive emotional state encouraged within the restored community. The use of חֶדְוָה in Nehemiah, in the phrase 'the joy of Yhwh is your strength,' highlights not just personal emotion but a collective, religiously grounded sense of well-being. Later translations occasionally render it with terms like 'joy' or 'gladness,' but these may not fully express its communal and sacred connotations. The word is linguistically related to the Aramaic חֲדוָה and appears in contexts where the influence of Aramaic on Late Biblical Hebrew vocabulary is evident. It differs from more common terms for joy, such as שִׂמְחָה (simchah), by its emphasis on communal or religious festivity rather than personal happiness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to חֶדְוָה; {rejoicing}; joy.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חדה (ḥ-d-h) — rejoice, be glad
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2302 | חָדָה | you cause him to rejoice |
| H2304 | חֶדְוָה | joy-of |
| H280 | אֲחִידָה | riddles |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2305-01 |
בְּ/חֶדְוָֽה | bechedevah | AR/Ncfsa |
with joy | in glad rejoicing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2305-01 |
Ezra 6:16 | בְּ/חֶדְוָֽה | bechedevah | AR/Ncfsa |
with joy | in glad rejoicing |