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מִחְיָה

𐤌𐤇𐤉𐤄

michyâh

H4241 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חיה to live, to preserve alive, to revive

Definition

Preservation or maintenance of life; that which sustains or restores life, encompassing sustenance (such as food), means of survival, or revival from danger. In some contexts, refers directly to the act or process of being kept alive, or to the living flesh as opposed to dead flesh.

Semantic Range

preservation of life, sustenance, means of survival, maintenance of life, revival, recovery, provision of food, living (as opposed to dead) flesh

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root חיה (ḥ-y-h), meaning 'to live' or 'to be alive.' מִחְיָה is a feminine noun formed with the mem-prefix (מִ-) indicating the result or means associated with the root. Thus, its formation conveys 'that which makes alive' or 'that which sustains life.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִחְיָה occurs in narratives concerning survival (e.g., Genesis 45:5,7) where Joseph assures his brothers that their journey to Egypt enables the preservation of their lives and the household of Jacob during famine. In several passages (Judges 15:19, Ezra 9:8-9, Nehemiah 9:36), it refers to tangible means of survival, especially provision during scarcity or adversity. It may also denote revival or recovery from mortal danger or deep distress, both individually and collectively. The term contrasts with other nouns rooted in חיה—such as חַיִּים (life), which refers to the state of living in the abstract, and חַי (living, alive, or living things), which often serves as an adjective or substantive for living creatures. English translations like 'life,' 'preservation,' or 'sustenance' do not always fully capture the full scope, which can include recovery, vivid restoration, or a tangible means of keeping alive.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָיָה; preservation of life; hence, sustenance; also the live flesh, i.e. the quick; preserve life, quick, recover selves, reviving, sustenance, victuals.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חיה (ḥ-y-h) — to live, to preserve alive, to revive

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

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4241-02 מִֽחְיָה֙ micheyah HNcfsa reviving life-sustenance 4
H4241-01 לְ/מִֽחְיָ֔ה lemicheyah HR/Ncfsa to preserve life for life-sustenance 1
H4241-04 וּ/מִֽחְיַ֛ת umicheyat HC/Ncfsc and quick raw and life-sustenance of 1
H4241-03 מִֽחְיַ֣ת micheyat HNcfsc the raw flesh life-sustenance of 1
H4241-05 וּ/מִחְיָתֶ֑/ךָ umicheyatekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your living and your life-sustenance 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4241-01 Genesis 45:5 לְ/מִֽחְיָ֔ה lemicheyah HR/Ncfsa to preserve life for life-sustenance
H4241-04 Leviticus 13:10 וּ/מִֽחְיַ֛ת umicheyat HC/Ncfsc and quick raw and life-sustenance of
H4241-03 Leviticus 13:24 מִֽחְיַ֣ת micheyat HNcfsc the raw flesh life-sustenance of
H4241-02 Judges 6:4 מִֽחְיָה֙ micheyah HNcfsa sustenance life-sustenance
H4241-05 Judges 17:10 וּ/מִחְיָתֶ֑/ךָ umicheyatekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your living and your life-sustenance
H4241-02 Ezra 9:8 מִֽחְיָ֥ה micheyah HNcfsa reviving life-sustenance
H4241-02 Ezra 9:9 מִֽחְיָ֗ה micheyah HNcfsa reviving life-sustenance
H4241-02 2 Chronicles 14:12 מִֽחְיָ֔ה micheyah HNcfsa recovery life-sustenance
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