חֶבְיוֹן (chev.yon)
chev.yon
hiding
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun chev-yon refers to a place of concealment or a covering that hides something from view. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Habakkuk 3:4, where it describes the radiance surrounding God like a veil or envelope. This rare usage suggests a tangible barrier that both protects and obscures divine glory.
Its root relates to hiding or concealing, implying an active act of covering rather than passive absence. In this single occurrence, the word paints a picture of God’s presence being partially veiled yet intensely bright, blending majesty with mystery. Translators often render it as "glory" or "brightness," capturing the interplay between light and concealment that defines this moment in Habakkuk’s vision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chev-yon appears just once in Scripture, found in Habakkuk 3:4. It describes a covering or hiding place that surrounds God’s radiant splendor. This imagery suggests that divine glory is not always fully exposed to human eyes. Instead, it is often veiled, creating a sense of mystery and awe.
For your faith, this offers comfort. You do not need to see every detail of God’s plan or power to trust Him. His presence is real and powerful, even when it feels hidden or distant. The veil does not mean absence; it means that God’s majesty is too great for us to fully comprehend at once.
When life feels unclear, remember that God’s light shines from behind this covering. You can rely on His strength even when you cannot see the full picture. This hiddenness invites reverence and trust, reminding us that we serve a God who is both near and wonderfully beyond our full grasp.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] hiding place of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֶבְי֥וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 3:4
His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
The word chev-yon describes the radiant covering around God’s hand, showing that His power is present yet veiled in mystery.