Hebrew · H2421, G2198 · unreviewed

Chayah

To live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive · to live (literally or figuratively)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

חָיָה H2421 to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

Pronunciation chayah

Encompasses both physical survival and spiritual vitality; God's exclusive power to revive and restore life.

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ζάω G2198 to live (literally or figuratively)

Pronunciation záō

Living physically or spiritually; distinctively means existing in active relationship with God or Christ.

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What does chayah (chayah) mean in the Bible?

חָיָה · ζάω is a Hebrew word meaning "to live, revive, or restore to life".

Full entry for chayah (H2421, G2198) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to live, revive, or restore to life

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 87×

Imperfect 2Kgs 10:19 · 2Sam 1:10 · Deut 8:3 · Eccl 6:3 · Eccl 11:8 · Exod 19:13 · Ezek 3:21 · Ezek 18:9 · Ezek 18:13 · Ezek 18:17 · Ezek 18:19 · Ezek 18:21 · Ezek 18:22 · Ezek 18:28 · Ezek 33:13 · Ezek 33:15 58×

Infinitive absolute 2Kgs 8:10 · 2Kgs 8:14 · Ezek 3:21 · Ezek 18:9 · Ezek 18:17 · Ezek 18:19 · Ezek 18:21 · Ezek 18:28 · Ezek 33:13 · Ezek 33:15 · Ezek 33:16 11×

Jussive 1Kgs 1:25 · 1Kgs 1:31 · 1Kgs 1:34 · 1Kgs 1:39 · 1Sam 10:24 · 2Chr 23:11 · 2Kgs 11:12 · 2Sam 16:16 · Deut 33:6 · 1Kgs 20:32 11×

Perfect Eccl 6:6 · Gen 11:12 · Gen 11:14 · Num 14:38 4×

Sequential imperfect Ezek 16:6 2×

Cohortative Ps 119:17 1×

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 17×

Imperfect 1Chr 11:8 · 1Kgs 20:31 · 1Sam 27:9 · 1Sam 27:11 · Ezek 18:27 · Isa 7:21 · Job 36:6 · Deut 20:16 · Exod 22:17 · Gen 12:12 · Hos 14:8 · Eccl 7:12 · Ezek 13:18 · Jer 49:11 14×

Perfect Judg 21:14 · Ps 22:30 2×

Participle active Neh 9:6 1×

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 9×

Perfect 2Kgs 8:1 · 2Kgs 8:5 · Josh 6:25 · Josh 14:10 · Judg 8:19 · Num 22:33 8×

Sequential imperfect Num 31:18 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 113 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 83 Perfect 14 Infinitive absolute 11 Imperative 3 Participle 1 Cohortative 1

Stem

Qal 87 Piel 17 Hiphil 9

Mood

Indicative/jussive 65 Indicative 14 Jussive 11 Indicative/cohortative 7 Imperative 3

OT 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.

1 Corinthians 9 — Rights Surrendered, the Gospel Advanced, and Discipline for the Prize Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 25 — Paul Appeals to Caesar and Is Set Before Agrippa Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus

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

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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