חֲבַל (cha.val)
cha.val
to destroy
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chaval carries a straightforward meaning of causing harm or bringing about destruction. It appears in only three verses, primarily within the books of Daniel and Ezra, where it describes acts of violence or ruin against people and places. In these contexts, the word does not refer to accidental damage but to intentional injury or devastation.
Its usage is concentrated in narratives of conflict and political upheaval. For instance, in Daniel 9:26, it describes the destruction of the city and sanctuary, linking physical ruin with divine judgment. The term emphasizes the finality of the harm inflicted, whether by human agents or as a consequence of historical events.
Translators typically render chaval as "destroy" or "hurt," capturing the severity of the action without adding theological nuance beyond the literal sense of damage. Its rarity in Scripture highlights specific moments of crisis rather than serving as a general term for loss, making its occurrences stand out as markers of significant turmoil.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chaval points to a harsh reality of history: things can be broken. In Daniel and Ezra, it describes the violent overthrow of temples and cities by human hands. It reminds us that political power is fragile and that earthly structures are temporary. When we see this destruction recorded in Scripture, it validates our own experiences of loss and instability in a fallen world.
Yet this word also serves as a sharp contrast to God’s eternal plan. The same prophets who record chaval describe a kingdom that will never be destroyed. This offers profound comfort. While human empires rise and fall through force, God’s reign remains secure. We can trust that our ultimate hope rests not in the stability of governments, but in the unshakable nature of His sovereignty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will be destroyed2×
- to/ destroy1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִתְחַבַּֽל\׃\ \פ1×
- תִתְחַבַּ֔ל1×
- לְ/חַבָּלָ֛ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 6:12
May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
This verse uses chaval to warn against interfering with the temple, showing that God protects His dwelling place from human destruction.
-
Daniel 2:44
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
Here the word defines what will not happen to God's kingdom, highlighting its permanence against all earthly powers.
-
Daniel 7:14
Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
The repetition of this concept in Daniel’s vision reinforces that the Son of Man’s dominion is immune to the ruin that consumes other nations.