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חֵיוָא

𐤇𐤉𐤅𐤀

chêyvâʼ

H2423 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חייא to live, be alive

Definition

A living creature or animal, most often referring to non-human, animate life forms such as animals and wild beasts; can be used in a general sense for terrestrial animals, but is also contextually used in apocalyptic literature for visionary, symbolic figures representing kingdoms, powers, or phenomena. In literal contexts, denotes animal life distinct from humankind.

Semantic Range

animal, living creature, beast (generic), wild animal, visionarily symbolic beast or creature

Root / Etymology

Aramaic loanword from the root ח-י-א meaning 'to live.' The corresponding Hebrew root is ח-י-ה, 'to live, be alive.' חֵיוָא is formed as an Aramaic noun meaning 'living thing, animal,' with the connotation of animate existence or creatureliness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term חֵיוָא is used in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 2–7) to refer both to animals in general and to the vision of beasts symbolizing kingdoms (Daniel 7). Context determines whether the reference is to literal animals (as in lists of animals, such as lions and bears) or to apocalyptic symbolic entities. In contrast to Hebrew בְּהֵמָה (behemah, 'large domesticated animal, cattle') or חַיָּה (chayyah, 'wild animal, living creature'), חֵיוָא covers a broad semantic range in Aramaic and is more comparable to chayyah than behemah. Standard English translations often use 'beast' for both literal and apocalyptic usages, but the word can carry both neutral and ominous overtones depending on the context. Its usage in Daniel reflects later Second Temple period apocalyptic imagery, where 'beasts' represent successive empires; however, the basic sense remains 'living animal.' The form is unique to the Aramaic sections of the Tanakh and is not present in earlier biblical Hebrew books.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from חֲיָא; an animal; beast.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חיה (ḥ-y-h) — to live, be alive

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2416 חַי in the lives
H2417 חַי the living one
H2418 חֲיָא Live!
H2421 חָיָה I will cause to live
H2422 חָיֶה living ones

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2423-05 חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ cheyveta ANcfsd/Td beasts the living-creature 6
H2423-03 חֵיוַ֨ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts-of living-creature of 6
H2423-01 חֵיוָ֖ה cheyvah ANcfsa beast living creature 3
H2423-04 חֵֽיוָתָ/א֙ cheyvata ANcfsd/Td of the beasts the living creature 3
H2423-02 חֵיוָן֙ cheyvan ANcfpa beasts living creatures 1
H2423-06 לְ/חֵ֣יוְתָ֔/א lecheyveta AR/Ncfsd/Td to the beast to the living creature 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2423-03 Daniel 2:38 חֵיוַ֨ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts of living-creature of
H2423-03 Daniel 4:9 חֵיוַ֣ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts-of living-creature of
H2423-05 Daniel 4:11 חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ cheyveta ANcfsd/Td the-beasts the living-creature
H2423-05 Daniel 4:12 חֵיוְתָ֥/א cheyveta ANcfsd/Td beasts the living-creature
H2423-01 Daniel 4:13 חֵיוָ֖ה cheyvah ANcfsa of a beast living creature
H2423-03 Daniel 4:18 חֵיוַ֣ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts-of living-creature of
H2423-03 Daniel 4:20 חֵיוַ֤ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts living-creature of
H2423-03 Daniel 4:22 חֵיוַ֣ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts-of living-creature of
H2423-03 Daniel 4:29 חֵיוַ֧ת cheyvat ANcfsc beasts living-creature of
H2423-05 Daniel 5:21 חֵיוְתָ֣/א cheyveta ANcfsd/Td beasts the living-creature
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