חֵיוָא (che.va)
che.va
beast
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun che.va translates as beast or wild animal. It appears eleven times in the Old Testament, concentrated heavily in the book of Daniel where it describes the terrifying creatures from the sea and the statue’s legs. The word derives from the Hebrew chayyah, meaning a living creature, emphasizing its nature as a sentient being rather than an inanimate object.
In Daniel’s visions, these beasts represent earthly kingdoms that oppose God’s rule. The imagery is visceral: lions, bears, and leopards symbolize political powers with distinct characteristics. Translators render it simply as "beast," capturing the raw, untamed quality of the entities depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s apocalyptic scenes.
The term carries theological weight by contrasting divine sovereignty with human ambition. While the beasts appear powerful and destructive, they are ultimately subject to God’s judgment. This usage highlights the temporary nature of earthly empires compared to the eternal kingdom established by heaven.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Daniel’s visions, these creatures represent earthly powers that seem overwhelming at first glance. The imagery of lions, bears, and leopards captures the raw strength of human empires. Yet the text reminds us that their authority is limited and temporary. God remains sovereign over history, setting up rulers and removing them as He wills.
When you feel overwhelmed by political instability or social chaos, this word offers a quiet anchor. It assures us that no matter how fierce the current seems, it operates within boundaries set by heaven. Your trust rests not in human strength, but in the eternal kingdom that outlasts every empire.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- beasts/ the3×
- beast/ the3×
- a beast2×
- beasts1×
- animal[s]/ the1×
- [were] to/ beast/ the1×
- [the] animal[s] of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֵֽיוְתָ/א֙3×
- לְ/חֵ֣יוְתָ֔/א1×
- חֵיוָתָ֣/א1×
- חֵיוָן֙1×
- חֵיוָה֩1×
- חֵיוָ֣ה1×
- חֵיוַ֨ת1×
- חֵיוְתָ֣/א1×
- חֵֽיוָתָ֔/א1×
- חֵֽיוָתָ/א֙1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 7:3
Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
This verse introduces the four beasts rising from the sea, establishing them as symbols of earthly kingdoms distinct from God's heavenly rule.
-
Daniel 7:7
“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.
The fourth beast is described as awesome and powerful with iron teeth, illustrating the destructive capacity of certain political powers.
-
Daniel 7:11
“I watched at that time because of the voice of the arrogant words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
Here the vision shifts to judgment, showing that even the most arrogant beast is ultimately slain and destroyed by divine authority.
-
Daniel 7:17
‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
The interpretation clarifies that these animals represent kings or kingdoms arising from the earth, grounding the symbolism in historical reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word che.va mean?
Why are beasts used as symbols in Daniel?
How is this word different from other words for animal?
Every Occurrence (11 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 11 verses
Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and…
Daniel 5:21He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild…
Daniel 7:3Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
Daniel 7:5“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its…
Daniel 7:6“After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had…
Daniel 7:7“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly…
Daniel 7:11“I watched at that time because of the voice of the arrogant words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the…
Daniel 7:12As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Daniel 7:17‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
Daniel 7:19“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly…
Daniel 7:23“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and…