† I. חַי adjective alive, living; — 
ח׳ Genesis 25:6 +; 
חָ֑י Genesis 3:20 +, 
חֵי Amos 8:14 + 
15 times (Ew
§ 329 explains as construct, but Ges
§ 93, R 7 n and others as contracted absolute); feminine 
חַיָּה Genesis 1:20 +; plural 
חַיִּים Psalm 116:9 +; — 
    1. a. of God, as the 
living one, the fountain of life 
אֵל חַי Joshua 3:10 (J), 
Hosea 2:1; 
Psalm 42:3; 
Psalm 84:3; 
אלהים חי 2 Kings 19:4, 
16 = 
Isaiah 37:4, 
17; 
אלהים חיים Deuteronomy 5:23 [
Deuteronomy 5:26]
1; 
1 Samuel 17:26, 
36; 
Jeremiah 10:10; 
Jeremiah 23:36; 
חי יהוה Yahweh is living Psalm 18:47 = 
2 Samuel 22:47; 
גאלי חי my avenger is living Job 19:25; the formula of the oath is 
חַי י׳ Judges 8:19; 
Ruth 3:13; 
1 Samuel 14:39, 
45; 
1 Samuel 19:6; 
1 Samuel 20:21; 
1 Samuel 25:34; 
1 Samuel 26:10, 
16; 
1 Samuel 28:10; 
1 Samuel 29:6; 
2 Samuel 4:9; 
2 Samuel 12:5; 
2 Samuel 14:11; 
2 Samuel 15:21; 
1 Kings 1:29; 
1 Kings 2:24; 
1 Kings 17:1, 
12; 
1 Kings 18:10; 
1 Kings 22:14 2 Chronicles 18:13; 
2 Kings 5:16, 
20; 
Hosea 4:15; 
Jeremiah 4:2; 
Jeremiah 5:2; 
Jeremiah 12:16; 
Jeremiah 16:14, 
15; 
Jeremiah 23:7, 
8; 
Jeremiah 38:16; 
חי אל Job 27:2; 
האלהים ח׳ 2 Samuel 2:27; 
חי אדני י׳ Jeremiah 44:26; 
צבאות תי י׳ 1 Kings 18:15; 
2 Kings 3:14; as used by God Himself it is 
חי אנכי Deuteronomy 32:40, elsewhere 
חי אני Numbers 14:21, 
28 (P) 
Isaiah 49:18; 
Jeremiah 22:24; 
Jeremiah 46:18; 
Ezekiel 5:11; 
Ezekiel 14:16, 
18, 
20; 
Ezekiel 16:48; 
Ezekiel 17:16, 
19; 
Ezekiel 18:3; 
Ezekiel 20:3, 
31, 
33; 
Ezekiel 33:11, 
27; 
Ezekiel 34:8; 
Ezekiel 35:6, 
11; 
Zephaniah 2:9, compare also 
חֵי דרך באר שׁבע, 
חֵי אלהיך דן Amos 8:14; with the exception of 
בְּחֵי הָעֹולָם by him who liveth for ever Daniel 12:7, 
חֵי is always (as an artificial distinction of scribes) used of non-sacred oaths, see...
 
    b. of man: אָדָם חַי a living man Lamentations 3:39, in antith 
חי חי ׃מֵת Isaiah 38:19; 
הַחַי collective 
Ecclesiastes 7:2; Absalom 
2 Samuel 19:7; Naboth 
1 Kings 21:15; a son or lad 
2 Samuel 12:21; 
1 Kings 3:22 (twice in verse); 
1 Kings 3:23 (twice in verse); 
1 Kings 3:25, 
26 (twice in verse); 
1 Kings 3:27; 
1 Kings 17:23; usually plural 
חיים alive, living Numbers 16:30, 
33 (J), 
Numbers 17:13 (P), 
Deuteronomy 4:4; 
Deuteronomy 5:3; 
Isaiah 8:19; 
Psalm 55:16; 
Psalm 124:3; 
Proverbs 1:12; 
Ecclesiastes 4:2 (twice in verse); 
Ecclesiastes 4:15; 
Ecclesiastes 6:8; 
Ecclesiastes 9:4, 
5; 
Ruth 2:20; taking prisoners 
alive Joshua 8:23 (J) 
1 Samuel 15:8; 
1 Kings 20:18 (twice in verse); 
2 Kings 7:12; 
2 Kings 10:14 (twice in verse); 
2 Chronicles 25:12; 
living (prosperously) 
1 Samuel 25:6 (We reads 
לָחִי = 
לְאָחִי (see Klo Dr) 
to my brother, after 
 fratribus meis
 fratribus meis); elsewhere in phrase (
פני) 
האדמה כלהֿימים אשׁר הֵם (אַתֶּם) חיים על all the days that they (ye) live upon (the face of) of the land Deuteronomy 4:10; 
Deuteronomy 12:1; 
Deuteronomy 31:13; 
1 Kings 8:40 2 Chronicles 6:31. Note phrases: 
עוֺד חַי (יםׅ yet alive Genesis 25:6; 
Genesis 43:7, 
27, 
28; 
Genesis 45:28; 
Genesis 46:30 (J), 
Genesis 45:3, 
26; 
Exodus 4:18 (E), 
Deuteronomy 31:27; 
1 Samuel 20:14; 
2 Samuel 12:22; 
2 Samuel 18:14; 
1 Kings 20:32; 
בהיות חי 2 Samuel 12:18; 
1 Kings 12:6; 
2 Chronicles 10:6; 
אֶרֶץ (ה)חַיִים land of the living Isaiah 38:11; 
Isaiah 53:8; 
Jeremiah 11:19; 
Ezekiel 26:20; 
Ezekiel 32:23, 
24, 
25, 
26, 
27, 
32; 
Psalm 27:13; 
Psalm 52:7; 
Psalm 142:6; 
Job 28:13; 
ארצות הח׳ Psalm 116:9; 
ספר ח׳ Psalm 69:29; 
צרור הח׳ bundle of the living 1 Samuel 25:29; 
אור הח׳ light of the living Job 33:30; Psalm 56:14. In the oath by life of men 
חי is pointed always 
חֵי אדני ׃חֵי המלך as my lord the king liveth 2 Samuel 15:21; 
חֵי פרעה Genesis 42:15, 
16 (E); 
חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ 1 Samuel 1:26; 
1 Samuel 17:55; 
2 Samuel 14:19; 
חַ׳ וְחֵי נַפְשְׁךָ י׳ as Yahweh liveth and as thy soul (or thyself) 
liveth 1 Samuel 20:3; 
1 Samuel 25:26; 
2 Kings 2:2, 
4, 
6; 
2 Kings 4:30 חַיֶּךָ וְחֵי נ׳ 2 Samuel 11:11 (but on text see We Dr).
 
    c. of animals, 
alive, living: ox 
Exodus 21:35; 
Exodus 22:3 (E); goat 
Leviticus 16:10, 
20, 
21 (P); bird 
Leviticus 14:4, 
6 (twice in verse); 
Leviticus 14:7, 
51, 
53; dog, 
לְכֶלֶב חַי הוּא טוֺב מִןהָֿאַרְיֵה הַמֵּת Ecclesiastes 9:4 (compare Arabic proverb 
Kelb ḥei wa-lâ meijit, 
a living dog and no dead lion Wetzst
Verhand. Berl. Anthrop. Ges. 1878, 388); reptiles 
Genesis 1:28 (P); animals in general 
Genesis 9:3 (P); 
בשׂר חי living, raw flesh Leviticus 13:10, 
14, 
15 (twice in verse); 
Leviticus 13:16 (P) 
1 Samuel 2:15.
 
    e. (dubious) of vegetation, as thorns, 
green, 
Psalm 58:10 (Ges Ew Ol Pe, but De Ri Che Bae 
raw flesh, see 
c. above near the end) 
feminine of water, 
flowing, fresh מים חיים Genesis 26:19 (J), 
Leviticus 14:5, 
6, 
50, 
51, 
52; 
Leviticus 15:13; 
Numbers 19:17 (P), 
Jeremiah 2:13; 
Jeremiah 17:13; 
Zechariah 14:8; 
Songs 4:15.
 
    2. (dubious) 
lively, active: אישׁ חַי an active man 2 Samuel 23:20 (but Qr 
אישׁ חַיִל is to be preferred); 
איבי חיים mine enemies 
are lively Psalm 38:20 (RV, but Houb Ol Ew Hu Che and others read 
חִנָּם, || 
שׁקר).
 
See related Aramaic BDB entry 
H2417. 
† II. [
חַי] 
noun [
masculine] 
kinsfolk (Arabic 
حَئً a group of families united by vital ties RS
K 36-40 Dr 
Sm 119), plural suffix 
חַיַּי 1 Samuel 18:18, incorrectly pointed with the interpretation 
my life RV, but read 
חַיִּי my kins-folk, We Ki Dr RS SS RVm VB. It is explained by the gloss 
משׁפחת אבי We (Klo reads 
אַחַי וּ). 
† I. חַיָּה noun feminine living thing, animal (Zinjirli 
wild beast DHM
Sendsch. 34) — 
ח׳ Genesis 8:17 +; construct 
חַיַּת Isaiah 57:10 +; old case ending (poetic) 
חַיְתוֺ Genesis 1:24; 
Psalm 50:10; 
Psalm 79:2; 
Psalm 104:11; 
Psalm 104:20; 
Isaiah 56:9 (twice in verse); 
Zephaniah 2:14; suffix 
חַיָּתִי Psalm 143:3, etc.; plural 
חַיּוֺת Leviticus 14:4 + 
12 times — 
    1. animal, as living, active being:
    b. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity 
Genesis 7:14, 
21; 
Genesis 8:1, 
19; 
Genesis 9:5 (P) 
Leviticus 17:13; 
Leviticus 25:7 (H) 
Job 37:8; 
Psalm 148:10; 
Isaiah 40:16; 
Ezekiel 14:15; 
Ezekiel 33:27; 
Zephaniah 2:14, 
15; 
ח׳ קנה Psalm 68:31 wild animal of the reeds; 
רעה ח׳ evil beast Genesis 37:20, 
33 (JE) 
Leviticus 26:6 (H) 
Ezekiel 5:17; 
Ezekiel 14:15, 
21; 
Ezekiel 34:25; 
טמאה ח׳ Leviticus 5:2 (P) 
unclean beast; 
הארץ ח׳ Genesis 1:25, 
30; 
Genesis 9:2, 
10 (twice in verse) (P) 
1 Samuel 17:46; 
Ezekiel 29:5; 
Ezekiel 32:4; 
Ezekiel 34:28; 
Job 5:22; 
חיתו ארץ Genesis 1:24 (P) 
Psalm 79:2; 
השׂדה ח׳ Exodus 23:11, 
29 (covt. code.) 
Leviticus 26:22 (H) 
Deuteronomy 7:22; 
2 Samuel 21:10; 
2 Kings 14:9 2 Chronicles 25:18; 
Hosea 2:14; 
Hosea 2:20; 
Hosea 4:3; 
Hosea 13:8; 
Isaiah 43:20; 
Jeremiah 27:6; 
Jeremiah 28:14; 
Ezekiel 38:20; 
Ezekiel 39:4; 
Job 5:23; 
Job 39:15; 
השׂדה כל ח׳ Genesis 2:19, 
20; 
Genesis 3:1, 
14 (J) 
Job 40:20; 
Jeremiah 12:9; 
Ezekiel 31:6, 
13; 
Ezekiel 34:5, 
8; 
Ezekiel 39:17; 
חיתו שׂדי Isaiah 56:9; 
Psalm 104:11; 
חיתו (ב)יער Isaiah 56:9; 
Psalm 50:10; 
Psalm 104:20; 
חיות פְּרִיץ Isaiah 35:9 destroyer among beasts.
 
    3. appetite, activity of hunger: 
חית כפרים appetite of young lions Job 38:39.
 
    4. revival, renewal: חַיַּת יָדֵךְ מָצָאתְ thou didst find renewal of thy strength (re-invigoration) 
Isaiah 57:10; see 
חָיָה 2.
 
See related Aramaic BDB entry 
H2423. 
II. חַיָּה noun feminine (si vera lectio) 
community (=feminine of II. 
חַי according to Nö 
ZMG, 1886, 176) — 
חֹנָה פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְחַיַּת and a community of Philistines (i.e. a group of allied families, making a raid together) 
was encamping 2 Samuel 23:13 (=
מַחֲנֵה 1 Chronicles 11:15); perhaps also 
Psalm 68:11 (compare below) 
Note. — Several other passages are dubious: 
וַיֵּאָסְפוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים לַחַיָּה 2 Samuel 23:11 assembled into a troop, or 
by bands (RV, but neither rendering justified: Bö Ew We Klo Dr rightly read 
לֶ֫חְיָה to 
Leḥi, compare 
Judges 15:9 word omitted by accident in || 
1 Chronicles 11:13 Dr); 
יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָהּ חַיָּֽֽֽתְךָ Psalm 68:11 thy troop dwelt in it (Thes SS RVm Hi Ri Che, but 
 
 
 Jerome Pe 
thy (
living) 
creatures, of the people; Hup 
id., reference to quails; improbable); 
אַלתִּֿתֵּן לְחַיַּת נֶפֶשׁ תּוֺרֶךָ חַיַּת עֲנִיֶּיךָ אַלתִּֿשְׁכַּח לָנֶ֫צַח Psalm 74:19 give not the soul of thy turtle-dove to the wild beasts, the life of thine afflicted do not forget for ever: RV Hi Pe Bae Sch render thus, giving 
חית different meanings in the two clauses, the former being archaic feminine absolute Ges
§ 80, 2. R. 2; text doubtless corrupt, read possibly 
למות Schr Ri, for 
לחית, or 
לשׁחת Kroch; Gr either of these; Che either, or better 
לחרב. 
† 
חַיִּים noun masculineDeuteronomy 28:66 plural abstract emphatic life, 
ח׳ Genesis 2:7 +; 
חַיִּין Job 24:22 (Aramaism Ges
§ 87 (1) a); 
חַיֵּי Genesis 23:1 +; suffix 
חַיַּי Genesis 47:9 +; 
חַיָּ֑יְכִי Psalm 103:4; (Ges
§ 91 (2) R. 2), etc.; — 
    1. life: physical 
Genesis 27:46; 
Exodus 1:14 (P), 
Deuteronomy 28:66 (twice in verse); 
2 Samuel 11:11; 
2 Samuel 15:21; 
Isaiah 38:12; Jeremiah 8:23; 
Lamentations 3:53, 
58; 
Ezekiel 7:13; 
Job 3:20; 
Job 7:7; 
Job 9:21; 
Job 10:12; 
Job 24:22; 
Psalm 7:6; 
Psalm 17:14; 
Psalm 21:5; 
Psalm 26:9; 
Psalm 31:11; 
Psalm 34:13; 
Psalm 63:4; 
Psalm 64:2; 
Psalm 66:9; 
Psalm 88:4; 
Psalm 103:4; 
Proverbs 18:21; 
Ecclesiastes 2:17; 
Ecclesiastes 6:12; 
Ecclesiastes 7:13; 
Ecclesiastes 9:9 (twice in verse); 
Ecclesiastes 10:19; 
Jonah 2:7; 
Jonah 4:3, 
8; 
חַיֵּי שׂרה life of Sarah Genesis 23:1(P) 
שְׁנֵי ח׳ years of the life of 2 Samuel 19:35; 
Genesis 23:1; 
Genesis 25:7, 
17; 
Genesis 47:8, 
9 (twice in verse); 
Genesis 47:28; 
Exodus 6:16, 
18, 
20 (P); 
שָׁנָה לח׳ Genesis 7:11 (P); 
שְׁנוֺת חַיִּים Proverbs 3:2; 
Proverbs 4:10; 
Proverbs 9:11; 
יְמֵי ח׳ days of the life of Ecclesiastes 2:3; 
Ecclesiastes 5:17; 
Ecclesiastes 5:19; 
Ecclesiastes 6:12; 
Ecclesiastes 8:15; 
Ecclesiastes 9:9; 
כֹּל יְמֵי ח׳ Genesis 3:14, 
17 (J) 
Deuteronomy 4:9; 
Deuteronomy 6:2; 
Deuteronomy 16:3; 
Deuteronomy 17:19; 
Joshua 1:5; 
Joshua 4:14 (D) 
1 Samuel 1:11; 
1 Samuel 7:15; 
1 Kings 5:1; 
1 Kings 11:34; 
1 Kings 15:5, 
6; 
2 Kings 25:29, 
30 = 
Jeremiah 52:33, 
34; 
Isaiah 38:20 (poem of Hez.) 
Psalm 23:6; 
Psalm 27:4; 
Psalm 128:5; 
Proverbs 31:12; 
בּח׳ in or 
during one's life Genesis 27:46 (P) 
Leviticus 18:18 (H) 
Judges 16:30; 
2 Samuel 1:23; 
2 Samuel 18:18; 
Psalm 49:19; 
Psalm 63:5; 
Psalm 104:33; 
Psalm 146:2; 
Job 10:1; 
Ecclesiastes 3:12; 
Ecclesiastes 9:3; 
רוּחַ ח׳ Genesis 6:17; 
Genesis 7:15 (P); 
רוּחִי ח׳ Isaiah 38:16 (poem of Hez.); 
בשׂרים ח׳ Proverbs 14:30; 
נִשְׁמַת (רוּחַ) ח׳ Genesis 2:7; 
Genesis 7:22 (J).
 
    3. sustenance, maintenance: חַיִּים לְנַעֲרוֺתֶיךָ Proverbs 27:27 maintenance for thy maidens, see 
H4241 מִחְיָה
 
    
    
        1. Edited by BLB [An error was made in the original document incorrectly quoting Deu 5:23]
    
 
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