חֵיוָא
𐤇𐤉𐤅𐤀
chêyvâʼ
H2423 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A living creature or animal, most often referring to non-human, animate life forms such as animals and wild beasts; can be used in a general sense for terrestrial animals, but is also contextually used in apocalyptic literature for visionary, symbolic figures representing kingdoms, powers, or phenomena. In literal contexts, denotes animal life distinct from humankind.
Semantic Range
animal, living creature, beast (generic), wild animal, visionarily symbolic beast or creature
Root / Etymology
Aramaic loanword from the root ח-י-א meaning 'to live.' The corresponding Hebrew root is ח-י-ה, 'to live, be alive.' חֵיוָא is formed as an Aramaic noun meaning 'living thing, animal,' with the connotation of animate existence or creatureliness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term חֵיוָא is used in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 2–7) to refer both to animals in general and to the vision of beasts symbolizing kingdoms (Daniel 7). Context determines whether the reference is to literal animals (as in lists of animals, such as lions and bears) or to apocalyptic symbolic entities. In contrast to Hebrew בְּהֵמָה (behemah, 'large domesticated animal, cattle') or חַיָּה (chayyah, 'wild animal, living creature'), חֵיוָא covers a broad semantic range in Aramaic and is more comparable to chayyah than behemah. Standard English translations often use 'beast' for both literal and apocalyptic usages, but the word can carry both neutral and ominous overtones depending on the context. Its usage in Daniel reflects later Second Temple period apocalyptic imagery, where 'beasts' represent successive empires; however, the basic sense remains 'living animal.' The form is unique to the Aramaic sections of the Tanakh and is not present in earlier biblical Hebrew books.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from חֲיָא; an animal; beast.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
חייא (chêyvâʼ) — to live, be alive
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2423-03 |
חֵיוַ֨ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts-of | living-creature of | beasts of | 6 |
H2423-05 |
חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
beasts | the living-creature | the beast | 6 |
H2423-01 |
חֵיוָ֖ה | cheyvah | ANcfsa |
beast | living creature | beast | 3 |
H2423-04 |
חֵֽיוָתָ/א֙ | cheyvata | ANcfsd/Td |
of the beasts | the living creature | the beasts | 3 |
H2423-02 |
חֵיוָן֙ | cheyvan | ANcfpa |
beasts | living creatures | beasts | 1 |
H2423-06 |
לְ/חֵ֣יוְתָ֔/א | lecheyveta | AR/Ncfsd/Td |
to the beast | to the living creature | to the beast | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
20 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2423-03 |
Daniel 2:38 | חֵיוַ֨ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts of | living-creature of | beasts of |
H2423-03 |
Daniel 4:9 | חֵיוַ֣ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts-of | living-creature of | beasts of |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 4:11 | חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
the-beasts | the living-creature | the beasts |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 4:12 | חֵיוְתָ֥/א | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
beasts | the living-creature | the beasts |
H2423-01 |
Daniel 4:13 | חֵיוָ֖ה | cheyvah | ANcfsa |
of a beast | living creature | beast |
H2423-03 |
Daniel 4:18 | חֵיוַ֣ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts-of | living-creature of | beasts of |
H2423-03 |
Daniel 4:20 | חֵיוַ֤ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts | living-creature of | beasts of |
H2423-03 |
Daniel 4:22 | חֵיוַ֣ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts-of | living-creature of | beasts of |
H2423-03 |
Daniel 4:29 | חֵיוַ֧ת | cheyvat | ANcfsc |
beasts | living-creature of | living-creature of |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 5:21 | חֵיוְתָ֣/א | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
beasts | the living-creature | the beasts |
H2423-02 |
Daniel 7:3 | חֵיוָן֙ | cheyvan | ANcfpa |
beasts | living creatures | beasts |
H2423-01 |
Daniel 7:5 | חֵיוָה֩ | cheyvah | ANcfsa |
beast | living creature | living creature |
H2423-06 |
Daniel 7:6 | לְ/חֵ֣יוְתָ֔/א | lecheyveta | AR/Ncfsd/Td |
to the beast | to the living creature | to the beast |
H2423-01 |
Daniel 7:7 | חֵיוָ֣ה | cheyvah | ANcfsa |
beast | living creature | beast |
H2423-04 |
Daniel 7:7 | חֵֽיוָתָ/א֙ | cheyvata | ANcfsd/Td |
the beasts | the living creature | the beasts |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 7:11 | חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
the beast | the living-creature | the beast |
H2423-04 |
Daniel 7:12 | חֵֽיוָתָ֔/א | cheyvata | ANcfpd/Td |
of the beasts | the living creature | of the beasts |
H2423-04 |
Daniel 7:17 | חֵיוָתָ֣/א | cheyvata | ANcfpd/Td |
beasts | the living creature | the beasts |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 7:19 | חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
the beast | the living-creature | the beast |
H2423-05 |
Daniel 7:23 | חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙ | cheyveta | ANcfsd/Td |
beast | the living-creature | the beast |