חֲבָל (cha.val)
cha.val
harm
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chaval denotes physical harm, damage, or injury. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the narrative sections of Ezra and Daniel that describe events among the exiles in Babylon.
In these contexts, the word describes tangible loss or hurt inflicted upon people or property. Its limited usage highlights specific moments of conflict or vulnerability rather than serving as a general term for suffering. The sources identify it simply as injury, focusing on the concrete reality of damage done.
This rarity makes its occurrences stand out in the biblical text. It marks instances where the peace of the community is broken by external force or internal strife, providing a precise vocabulary for the cost of political instability in the post-exilic period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chaval describes tangible harm or damage, appearing only twice in the Old Testament. In Ezra, it warns against actions that might cause hurt to the king, highlighting how our choices can impact those in authority. This rare term reminds us that our words and deeds have real consequences for others.
Conversely, Daniel shows a group walking through fire unharmed by chaval. This contrast offers hope: while harm is a real possibility, God’s presence protects His people from destruction. Whether facing political tension or personal trials, we can trust that God cares about our safety and well-being.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- damage/ the1×
- and/ hurt1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲבָלָ֔/א1×
- וַ/חֲבָ֖ל1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:22
Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
This verse uses chaval to warn against causing damage to the king, showing how political instability can lead to tangible harm.
-
Daniel 3:25
He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
Here, the negative form of chaval describes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as unharmed by fire, demonstrating God's protective power.