הֵיךְ (hekh)
hekh
how?
H:IntgQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intg
Word Overview
The Hebrew word hekh functions as an interrogative adverb meaning "how." It is a rare term in the Old Testament, appearing only twice: in 1 Chronicles 29:14 and Daniel 7:19. In both instances, it introduces a question regarding the manner or method of something.
In 1 Chronicles 29:14, King David uses hekh while reflecting on God’s sovereignty over all resources. He asks how he can offer freely to God what belongs to Him, emphasizing the impossibility of calculating divine provision. The word highlights a rhetorical inquiry into the nature of giving and ownership.
The second occurrence in Daniel 7:19 sees the prophet asking how the fourth beast, described with terrifying details, could be so different from others. Here, hekh underscores confusion or a desire for deeper understanding about the beast’s unique characteristics. The term is straightforward, lacking the poetic complexity of other Hebrew interrogatives.
Its brevity and scarcity make it a precise tool for asking about process or condition. Translators consistently render it as "how," preserving its direct question format. The word does not carry metaphorical weight but serves a clear syntactic role in seeking clarification.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hekh appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, yet it captures two profound moments of human humility before God. In 1 Chronicles, David uses this simple question to acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord’s hand. It reminds us that our offerings are merely returning what already belongs to Him, shifting our focus from obligation to grateful response.
In Daniel, the prophet asks how a terrifying vision could be so unlike anything he had seen before. This usage highlights our natural desire for clarity when facing mysteries that exceed our understanding. We do not need to have all the answers; we only need to bring our questions honestly before God, trusting that He hears even our confused inquiries.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- how?1×
- and/ how?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הֵ֣יךְ1×
- הֵ֚יךְ1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 13:12
David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”
David uses this question to express his awe and fear regarding the holiness of God's presence.
-
Daniel 10:17
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me. There was no breath left in me.”
The prophet employs this term to describe his physical weakness and inability to comprehend the vision he just received.