What does חָיָה · יֶלֶד mean in the Bible?
חָיָה · יֶלֶד is a Hebrew phrase meaning "preserved the male children alive".
Hebrew · H2421, H3206
וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים
To live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive · something born , i.e. a lad or offspring
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
חָיָהH2421to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
Pronunciationchayah
Encompasses both physical survival and spiritual vitality; God's exclusive power to revive and restore life.
Open lexicon entry →יֶלֶדH3206something born , i.e. a lad or offspring
Pronunciationyeled
Denotes human offspring from infancy through youth; emphasizes biological origin and dependent status rather than age specificity
Open lexicon entry →What does וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים (watteḥayyena et-hayeladim) mean in the Bible?
חָיָה · יֶלֶד is a Hebrew phrase meaning "preserved the male children alive".
Full entry for וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים (H2421, H3206) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H2421, H3206?
H2421, H3206 is connected to 355 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. preserved the male children alive
Source Gloss
preserved the male children alive
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 groups3Aligned forms113
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense87×
Imperfect2Kgs 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 33:1558×
Infinitive absolute2Kgs 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 33:1611×
Jussive1Kgs 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 20:3211×
PerfectEccl 6:6 · Gen 11:12 · Gen 11:14 · Num 14:384×
Sequential imperfectEzek 16:62×
CohortativePs 119:171×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action17×
Imperfect1Chr 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 49:1114×
PerfectJudg 21:14 · Ps 22:302×
Participle activeNeh 9:61×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action9×
Perfect2Kgs 8:1 · 2Kgs 8:5 · Josh 6:25 · Josh 14:10 · Judg 8:19 · Num 22:338×
Sequential imperfectNum 31:181×
Word Origins
וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים is built from this root:
חָוָהH2331