חַד (chad)
chad
sharp
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective chad means sharp, describing something with a keen edge or point. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic or wisdom literature to convey physical precision.
In Proverbs 25:18, it describes a man who strikes his neighbor with deceit, likening false testimony to a broken weapon that is sharp enough to wound but fails to deliver a clean blow. Isaiah 49:2 uses the word metaphorically for the prophet’s mouth, which God has made sharp like a polished sword to strike down enemies through the power of divine speech.
The term emphasizes effectiveness and danger rather than mere size or strength. Translators often render it as "sharp" or "keen," capturing the sense of something capable of cutting or piercing with precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chad describes something with a keen edge, capable of cutting or piercing with precision. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic literature to convey physical sharpness. In Proverbs 5:4, it warns that the end of sinful desires is bitter and sharp like a two-edged sword. This image reminds us that choices made without wisdom can wound deeply.
In Isaiah 49:2, God speaks of making His mouth like a sharp sword. Here, the word shifts from warning to empowerment. It shows how divine speech can cut through confusion and bring truth. For believers, this highlights the power of words to heal or harm, depending on their source and intent.
Understanding chad helps us see the importance of guarding our own speech. Just as a sharp tool requires care, so too do our words demand thoughtfulness. May we use them wisely, reflecting God’s truth in all we say.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sharp2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַדָּ֔ה1×
- חַ֝דָּ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 5:4
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
This verse uses chad to describe the painful consequences of sinful desires, comparing them to a sharp, two-edged sword that wounds those who pursue them.
-
Isaiah 49:2
He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. He has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver.
Here, chad portrays God sharpening the prophet’s mouth like a sword, showing how divine speech can pierce through darkness and bring clarity.