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חָוָה

𐤇𐤅𐤄

châvâh

H2331 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חוה to declare, to make known, to show, to report

Definition

As a verb, חָוָה (châvâh) means to make known, declare, express, or expound, especially in the context of communication or articulating information. It can also mean to show, report, or make evident, often used in wisdom literature or poetic contexts to denote giving an account or clarifying a message.

Semantic Range

to declare, to communicate clearly, to show or make evident, to expound, to give account, to announce

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חוה (root: ח-ו-ה), likely bearing the core sense of 'to declare, announce, show.' While this root is related in consonantal form to חיה (to live), lexicographically they are distinct roots with different meanings and usages. The nominal form חֲוָא in Aramaic (to declare, tell) provides comparative evidence for the sense in Biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָוָה is a rare verb in Biblical Hebrew, appearing primarily in poetic books such as Job and Psalms. It is not the standard verb for 'to live' (that is חָיָה, châyâh), but is specialized for expressing the act of proclaiming, declaring, or informing. In later Hebrew and Aramaic, this root carries the sense of 'to tell, make known.' It should be distinguished from similar roots: חָיָה (to live, be alive) and the noun חַוָּה (Eve, which is derived from חיה, not חוה). Major English translations often render the verb as 'declare' or 'show,' but this can obscure the nuance of 'to make something clear by reporting or explanation,' especially in wisdom or didactic contexts. The word appears in contrast to verbs of simple narration (e.g., אמר, 'to say') or more dramatic proclamation (e.g., קרא, 'to call out'). Its usage is almost always in a poetic or elevated stylistic register.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; (compare חֲוָא, חָיָה); properly, to live; by implication (intensively) to declare or show; show.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חוה (ḥ-w-h) — to declare, to make known, to show, to report

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2324 חֲוָא I will fully declare
H2332 חַוָּה Living-One
H2333 חַוָּה villages of
H2334 חַוּוֹת יָעִיר dwelling-villages of
H262 אַחְוָה and my declaration

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2331-01 אֲחַוֶּ֖ה achaveh HVpi1cs I will declare I will declare 2
H2331-04 וַ/אֲחַוֶּ֑/ךָּ vaachavekha HC/Vpi1cs/Sp2ms and I will show you and I declare you 1
H2331-03 מֵ/חַוֺּ֖ת mechaot HR/Vpc to declare to clearly declare 1
H2331-05 יְחַוֶּה yechaveh HVpi3ms shows he clearly declares 1
H2331-02 אֲחַוְ/ךָ֥ achavekha HVpi1cs/Sp2ms I will show you I will declare to you 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2331-05 Psalms 19:3 יְחַוֶּה yechaveh HVpi3ms shows he clearly declares
H2331-02 Job 15:17 אֲחַוְ/ךָ֥ achavekha HVpi1cs/Sp2ms I will show you I will declare to you
H2331-03 Job 32:6 מֵ/חַוֺּ֖ת mechaot HR/Vpc to declare to clearly declare
H2331-01 Job 32:10 אֲחַוֶּ֖ה achaveh HVpi1cs I will declare I will declare
H2331-01 Job 32:17 אֲחַוֶּ֖ה achaveh HVpi1cs I will show I will declare
H2331-04 Job 36:2 וַ/אֲחַוֶּ֑/ךָּ vaachavekha HC/Vpi1cs/Sp2ms and I will show you and I declare you
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