חוּב (chuv)
chuv
to endanger
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chuv appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Daniel 5:23. In this context, it carries the meaning of being guilty or making someone liable for a charge. The specific form used here is the Piel stem, which intensifies the action to mean "to endanger" or "to put at risk." This single occurrence describes King Belshazzar’s act of exalting himself against the Lord, thereby placing his kingdom and soul in jeopardy.
While the root generally relates to guilt or liability, its usage here highlights the dangerous consequences of pride. By refusing to humble himself despite knowing God’s past deeds, Belshazzar actively endangered his position. The word underscores that such arrogance is not merely a personal failing but a perilous act with severe repercussions.
Translators typically render this term as "exalted" or "praised," focusing on the action rather than the risk. However, the underlying sense of incurable guilt remains. The verse serves as a stark reminder that elevating oneself above divine authority creates a state of spiritual danger, leading directly to the kingdom’s sudden fall.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chuv appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Daniel 5:23. In this context, it carries the meaning of being guilty or making someone liable for a charge. The specific form used here is the Piel stem, which intensifies the action to mean "to endanger" or "to put at risk." This single occurrence describes King Belshazzar’s act of exalting himself against the Lord, thereby placing his kingdom and soul in jeopardy.
While the root generally relates to guilt or liability, its usage here highlights the dangerous consequences of pride. By refusing to humble himself despite knowing God’s past deeds, Belshazzar actively endangered his position. The word underscores that such arrogance is not merely a personal failing but a perilous act with severe repercussions.
Translators typically render this term as "exalted" or "praised," focusing on the action rather than the risk. However, the underlying sense of incurable guilt remains. The verse serves as a stark reminder that elevating oneself above divine authority creates a state of spiritual danger, leading directly to the kingdom’s sudden fall.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ you will endanger1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/חִיַּבְתֶּ֥ם1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 1:10
The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”
This verse illustrates how pride and disobedience can endanger not only oneself but also those around them, as seen in the fear of the prince of the eunuchs.