What does חָיָה · מוּת mean in the Bible?
חָיָה · מוּת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive".
Hebrew · H2421, H4191
יְחִי ... וְאַל־יָמֹת
To live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive · to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
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.
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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 →מוּתH4191to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Pronunciationmût
Moves from literal death to spiritual/covenantal death; God's instrument of judgment and consequence for covenant violation.
Open lexicon entry →What does יְחִי ... וְאַל־יָמֹת (yechi ... ve'al-yamot) mean in the Bible?
חָיָה · מוּת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive".
Full entry for יְחִי ... וְאַל־יָמֹת (H2421, H4191) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H2421, H4191?
H2421, H4191 is connected to 1,104 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
Source Gloss
to live , whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
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
יְחִי ... וְאַל־יָמֹת is built from this root:
חָוָהH2331