What does חוּל (yāḥîl) mean in the Bible?
חוּל (yāḥîl): Circular motion ranging from physical writhing (childbirth, fear) to patient waiting; intertwining tension and endurance.
Hebrew · H2342
חוּל
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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
חוּל H2342
Pronunciation yāḥîl
What does חוּל (yāḥîl) mean in the Bible?
חוּל (yāḥîl): Circular motion ranging from physical writhing (childbirth, fear) to patient waiting; intertwining tension and endurance.
Full entry for חוּל (H2342) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2342?
The BSB source-word alignment has 60 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include tremble (5), I was brought forth (3), . . . (2), and wounded him (2), shakes (2).
Where does חוּל (yāḥîl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (13), Isaiah (11), Jeremiah (7), Job (6).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It tremble 5× 1 Chronicles 16:30, Job 26:5, Psalms 96:9, Psalms 114:7
I was brought forth 3× Psalms 51:5, Proverbs 8:24, Proverbs 8:25
. . . 2× Ezekiel 30:16, Zechariah 9:5
and wounded him 2× 1 Samuel 31:3, 1 Chronicles 10:3
shakes 2× Psalms 29:8
swirling down 2× Jeremiah 23:19, Jeremiah 30:23
who gave you birth 2× Deuteronomy 32:18, Isaiah 51:2
[and] quaked 1× Habakkuk 3:10
[Noah] waited 1× Genesis 8:10
a whirlwind 1× Jeremiah 23:19
and pipers [will proclaim] 1× Psalms 87:7
and swirled 1× Psalms 77:16
and trembles 1× Psalms 97:4
and wait patiently 1× Psalms 37:7
and writhes 1× Jeremiah 51:29
and you must wait 1× Job 35:14
be born 1× Isaiah 66:8
bear her fawn 1× Job 39:1
been in labor 1× Isaiah 23:4
brings forth 1× Proverbs 25:23
endure 1× Job 20:21
have you brought forth 1× Isaiah 45:10
He is secure 1× Psalms 10:5
I writhe in pain 1× Jeremiah 4:19
in anguish 1× Deuteronomy 2:25
man writhes in pain 1× Job 15:20
May it whirl 1× 2 Samuel 3:29
or You brought forth 1× Psalms 90:2
pain 1× Jeremiah 5:3
pined 1× Micah 1:12
pounds 1× Psalms 55:4
she was in labor 1× Isaiah 66:7
So they waited 1× Judges 3:25
the dancers 1× Judges 21:23
they will writhe 1× Isaiah 13:8
they will writhe in agony 1× Isaiah 23:5
to perform 1× Judges 21:21
travailed 1× Isaiah 54:1
turned to help 1× Lamentations 4:6
twists 1× Psalms 29:9
was in labor 1× Isaiah 66:8
was overcome with distress 1× Esther 4:4
we writhed in pain 1× Isaiah 26:18
Were you brought forth 1× Job 15:7
will flash 1× Hosea 11:6
will writhe in anguish 1× Ezekiel 30:16
Writhe 1× Micah 4:10
writhe in horror 1× Joel 2:6
writhes 1× Isaiah 26:17
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:10 וַיָּ֣חֶל to [Noah] waited Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 2:25 וְחָל֖וּ to in anguish Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Deuteronomy 32:18 מְחֹלְלֶֽךָ׃ to who gave you birth Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Judges 3:25 וַיָּחִ֣ילוּ to So they waited Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Judges 21:21 לָח֣וּל to to perform Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Judges 21:23 הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת to the dancers Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural 1 Samuel 31:3 וַיָּ֥חֶל to and wounded him Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 3:29 יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ to May it whirl Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1 Chronicles 10:3 וַיָּ֖חֶל to and wounded him Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Chronicles 16:30 חִ֤ילוּ to tremble Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 8:10
Aligned rows 60
Books represented 19
Genesis 1 Deuteronomy 2 Judges 3 1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 1 1 Chronicles 2 Esther 1 Job 6 Psalms 13 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 11 Jeremiah 7 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 2 Hosea 1 Joel 1 Micah 2 Habakkuk 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי 2x ḥō·w·lā·lə·tî Psalms 51:5, Proverbs 8:24
יָחֽוּל׃ 2x yā·ḥūl Jeremiah 23:19, Jeremiah 30:23
יָחִ֥יל 2x yā·ḥîl Job 20:21, Psalms 29:8
יָחִ֣יל 2x yā·ḥîl Psalms 29:8, Psalms 55:4
מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל 2x miṯ·ḥō·w·lêl Job 15:20, Jeremiah 23:19
אָחוּלָה 1x ʾå̄·ḥū·lå̄h Jeremiah 4:19
הֲי֤וּחַל 1x hă·yū·ḥal Isaiah 66:8
הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת 1x ham·mə·ḥō·lə·lō·wṯ Judges 21:23
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 6x 2 Samuel 3:29, Psalms 10:5, Psalms 77:16, Isaiah 23:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x Job 20:21, Psalms 55:4, Jeremiah 23:19, Jeremiah 30:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 3x Genesis 8:10, 1 Samuel 31:3, 1 Chronicles 10:3
Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular 3x Psalms 51:5, Proverbs 8:24, Proverbs 8:25
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 3x Isaiah 26:17, Isaiah 66:7, Ezekiel 30:16
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 3x Isaiah 54:1, Isaiah 66:8, Micah 1:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 2x Psalms 97:4, Jeremiah 51:29
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Psalms 29:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Circular motion ranging from physical writhing (childbirth, fear) to patient waiting; intertwining tension and endurance.
Strong's H2342
Lexical occurrences 61 verses Word forms 6 forms 41 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Psalms 29:5–9 Source Gloss
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
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 6 Aligned forms 41
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 7×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 16:30 · Ps 96:9 · Mic 4:10 · Ps 114:7 4×
Infinitive construct Ezek 30:16 1×
Cohortative Jer 4:19 1×
Polal 5×
Perfect Prov 8:24 · Prov 8:25 · Ps 51:7 · Job 15:7 4×
Imperfect Job 26:5 1×
Hithpolel 2×
Participle active Jer 23:19 · Job 15:20 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Ps 29:8 2×
Polel 3×
Imperfect Prov 25:23 · Ps 29:9 2×
Infinitive construct Job 39:1 1×
Poel 1×
Participle active Prov 26:10 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Shakes; writhes; twists; often used of the labor pains of childbirth; indicates a deep, structural shaking
Showing 1 selected witness from 61 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חוּל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain