חַי
Alive ; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong ; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does חַי (ḥay) mean in the Bible?
חַי (ḥay) is a Hebrew word meaning "alive ; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong ; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively". In Proverbs, life refers to flourishing under God's wisdom and covenant blessing. This term runs through the canonical themes of Canonical Anchor, Covenant, Wisdom.
Meaning
Life principle extending from physical vitality (raw, fresh, strong) to covenantal presence and relational aliveness with God.
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively BDB: kinsfolk Usage: age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, merry, multitude, (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
Why This Word Matters
In Proverbs, life refers to flourishing under God's wisdom and covenant blessing. Hosea 1:10-2:1
In Proverbs, life represents thriving within God's moral order. Isaiah 37:8-20
The concept includes both physical well-being and spiritual flourishing. Proverbs 10:16
The passage emphasizes that wisdom leads to true life. Proverbs 10:17
Contrasts the living God with lifeless idols. Proverbs 11:19
Contrasts Yahweh with lifeless idols. Proverbs 8:32-36
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 503 occurrences in the biblical text.
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.