What does חָכָה (ḥākāh) mean in the Bible?
חָכָה (ḥākāh): Waiting as active adherence or clinging; not passive but physically/emotionally holding fast to anticipation
Hebrew · H2442
חָכָה
Properly, to adhere to; hence, to await
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חָכָהH2442
Pronunciationḥākāh
What does חָכָה (ḥākāh) mean in the Bible?
חָכָה (ḥākāh): Waiting as active adherence or clinging; not passive but physically/emotionally holding fast to anticipation
Full entry for חָכָה (H2442) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2442?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include wait (2), and wait (1), delay (1), had waited (1), he who waits (1).
Where does חָכָה (ḥākāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Kings 7:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (4), 2 Kings (2), Job (2), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itwait2×Habakkuk 2:3, Zephaniah 3:8
and wait1×2 Kings 7:9
delay1×2 Kings 9:3
had waited1×Job 32:4
he who waits1×Daniel 12:12
I will wait1×Isaiah 8:17
longs1×Isaiah 30:18
on behalf of those who wait1×Isaiah 64:4
to wait1×Psalms 106:13
waits1×Psalms 33:20
who lie in ambush1×Hosea 6:9
who long1×Job 3:21
who wait1×Isaiah 30:18
Show sample aligned rows
2 Kings 7:9וְחִכִּ֛ינוּtoand waitConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural2 Kings 9:3תְחַכֶּֽה׃todelayVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJob 3:21הַֽמְחַכִּ֣יםtowho longArticle | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralJob 32:4חִכָּ֣הtohad waitedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 33:20חִכְּתָ֣הtowaitsVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singularPsalms 106:13חִ֝כּ֗וּtoto waitVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralIsaiah 8:17וְחִכִּ֙יתִי֙toI will waitConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularIsaiah 30:18יְחַכֶּ֤הtolongsVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 30:18ח֥וֹכֵיtowho waitVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructIsaiah 64:4לִמְחַכֵּה־toon behalf of those who waitPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Kings 7:9
Aligned rows14
Books represented8
2 Kings2Job2Psalms2Isaiah4Daniel1Hosea1Habakkuk1Zephaniah1
Source forms
הַֽמְחַכֶּ֖ה1xham·ḥak·kehDaniel 12:12
הַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים1xham·ḥak·kîmJob 3:21
וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ1xwə·ḥik·kî·nū2 Kings 7:9
וְחִכִּ֙יתִי֙1xwə·ḥik·kî·ṯîIsaiah 8:17
וּכְחַכֵּ֨י1xū·ḵə·ḥak·kêHosea 6:9
ח֥וֹכֵי1xḥō·w·ḵêIsaiah 30:18
חִכָּ֣ה1xḥik·kāhJob 32:4
חַכֵּה־1xḥak·kêh-Habakkuk 2:3
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural1xJob 3:21
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xDaniel 12:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural1x2 Kings 7:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xIsaiah 8:17
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct1xHosea 6:9
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct1xIsaiah 64:4
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural1xZephaniah 3:8
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular1xHabakkuk 2:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Waiting as active adherence or clinging; not passive but physically/emotionally holding fast to anticipation
Strong'sH2442
Lexical occurrences14 versesWord forms2 forms8 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 30:18-26Source Gloss
properly, to adhere to; hence, to await
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Waiting as active adherence or clinging; not passive but physically/emotionally holding fast to anticipation
properly, to adhere to; hence, to await BDB: wait Usage: long, tarry, wait.
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 groups2Aligned forms8
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action7×
PerfectJob 32:4 · Ps 33:20 · Ps 106:133×
Imperfect2Kgs 9:3 · Isa 30:182×
Sequential imperfectHab 2:3 · Zeph 3:82×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Participle activeIsa 30:181×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God waits to show grace, expecting people to seek His justice
Faithful expectation of God's actions for those who await Him
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָכָה is built from this root:
חָקָהH2707