Hebrew · H2342, G5604 · unreviewed

חִיל

Properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance , to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear ; figuratively, to wait , to pervert · a pang or throe, especially of childbirth

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

חוּל H2342 properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance , to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear ; figuratively, to wait , to pervert
Pronunciation yāḥîl
Circular motion ranging from physical writhing (childbirth, fear) to patient waiting; intertwining tension and endurance.
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ὠδίν G5604 a pang or throe, especially of childbirth
Pronunciation ōdín
Intense suffering likened to childbirth pangs; NT metaphor for end-times tribulation and death's grip.
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What does חִיל (chil) mean in the Bible?

חוּל · ὠδίν is a Hebrew word meaning "writhing or trembling, often associated with childbirth pain".

Full entry for חִיל (H2342, G5604) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

writhing or trembling, often associated with childbirth pain
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 28×
Imperfect 2Sam 3:29 · Hab 3:10 · Isa 23:5 · Joel 2:6 · Ps 10:5 · Ps 77:17 · Ezek 30:16 · Isa 26:17 · Isa 66:7 · Jer 23:19 · Jer 30:23 · Job 20:21 · Ps 55:5 · Jer 5:22 15×
Perfect Isa 54:1 · Isa 66:8 · Mic 1:12 · Jer 5:3 · Lam 4:6 · Isa 23:4 · Isa 26:18
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 16:30 · Ps 96:9 · Mic 4:10 · Ps 114:7
Infinitive construct Ezek 30:16
Cohortative Jer 4:19
Polal
Perfect Prov 8:24 · Prov 8:25 · Ps 51:7 · Job 15:7
Imperfect Job 26:5
Hithpolel
Participle active Jer 23:19 · Job 15:20
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Imperfect Ps 29:8
Polel
Imperfect Prov 25:23 · Ps 29:9
Infinitive construct Job 39:1
Poel
Participle active Prov 26:10
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 41 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 17 Perfect 7 Imperative 4 Perfective 4 Participle active 3 Imperfective 3 Infinitive construct 2 Cohortative 1
Stem
Qal 28 Polal 5 Polel 3 Hithpolel 2 Hiphil 2 Poel 1
Mood
Indicative/jussive 17 Indicative 7 Imperative 4
OT Occurrences
2 Sam 3:29 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 1 Chr 16:30 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Job 15:7 Polal · Perfective Job 15:20 Hithpolel · Participle active Job 20:21 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Job 26:5 Polal · Imperfective Job 39:1 Polel · Infinitive construct Ps 10:5 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 29:8 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 29:8 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 29:9 Polel · Imperfective Ps 51:7 Polal · Perfective Ps 55:5 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 77:17 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 96:9 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Ps 114:7 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Prov 8:24 Polal · Perfective Prov 8:25 Polal · Perfective Prov 25:23 Polel · Imperfective Prov 26:10 Poel · Participle active Isa 23:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Isa 23:5 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Isa 26:17 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Isa 26:18 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Isa 54:1 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Isa 66:7 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Isa 66:8 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Jer 4:19 Qal · Cohortative Jer 5:3 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Jer 5:22 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Jer 23:19 Hithpolel · Participle active Jer 23:19 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Jer 30:23 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lam 4:6 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ezek 30:16 Qal · Infinitive construct Ezek 30:16 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ezek 30:16 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Joel 2:6 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Mic 1:12 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Mic 4:10 Qal · Imperative · Imperative +1 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources