חֶדְוָה (ched.vah)
ched.vah
joy
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chedvah denotes joy, appearing in the Hebrew Bible as an Aramaic form of the more common Hebrew word chadwah. This linguistic shift reflects the language of the Persian Empire period, where Aramaic served as the administrative tongue. The term captures a sense of gladness or delight, rooted in the shared cultural and religious experience of the community.
Its sole occurrence is found in Ezra 6:16, describing the reaction of the Israelites after the completion of the Second Temple. The text states that they offered sacrifices with "great joy," highlighting a moment of communal celebration and restored worship. This usage underscores the word’s function in expressing collective relief and spiritual gladness following a period of exile and rebuilding.
While rare, its presence in Ezra links the concept of joy directly to the restoration of proper worship. The term does not imply fleeting happiness but rather a deep-seated satisfaction in God’s faithfulness. Translators typically render it simply as "joy," allowing the context of temple dedication to provide the necessary emotional weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chedvah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Ezra 6:16. It describes the deep gladness felt by the Israelites when they finished rebuilding the temple after years of exile. This joy was not a fleeting emotion but a steady relief and delight in God’s faithfulness to restore their worship.
For your life today, this rare word reminds us that true joy often follows seasons of waiting and rebuilding. When you see God’s work come to completion in your own circumstances, whether in relationships or ministry, you can recognize that same steady delight. It is a quiet confidence that He has been with you through the process.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ joy1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/חֶדְוָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 6:16
The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
This verse captures the communal relief and spiritual gladness of the Israelites as they dedicated the rebuilt temple, marking a turning point from exile to restoration.