חִיאֵל (chi.el)
chi.el
Hiel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name chi’el, meaning “God lives,” identifies a single figure in the Old Testament: the man from Bethel who rebuilt Jericho during the reign of King Ahab (1 Kings 16:34). His story serves as a direct fulfillment of Joshua’s ancient curse against anyone who would restore the city’s foundations. The text notes that he lost his sons, Abiram and Segub, in the process, marking his life with tragic irony given his name’s declaration of divine vitality.
Lexical sources treat this entry primarily as a proper noun rather than a common verb or adjective. Its significance lies entirely in its narrative context. The name itself affirms the existence of Israel’s God, yet the historical record shows that human defiance of divine judgment overrides such personal faith declarations. This word appears only once in Scripture, anchoring a specific moment of theological consequence in the divided monarchy period.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hiel means "God lives," yet his story in 1 Kings 16:34 serves as a sobering reminder that personal faith declarations do not shield us from the consequences of defying God's clear word. He rebuilt Jericho at great cost, losing both his firstborn and youngest son, fulfilling Joshua’s ancient curse. This narrative shows that human ambition cannot override divine judgment.
For your life today, this account invites honest reflection on where you might be pushing against God’s will despite knowing better. It encourages humility, reminding us that true vitality comes from obedience, not just correct words. Trusting in God’s timing and boundaries brings peace, while ignoring them often leads to loss.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hiel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִיאֵ֛ל1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 16:34
In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. He laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
This verse records the tragic fulfillment of Joshua's curse, showing that Hiel's name 'God lives' stood in stark contrast to his disobedience and the loss of his sons.