חִיל (chil)
chil
agony
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chil describes a physical sensation of writhing or agonizing pain, often triggered by intense fear. It is not merely an emotional state but a visceral reaction that causes the body to convulse or twist in distress. This word appears six times in the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Jeremiah, Micah, and Job, where it captures the raw physicality of human suffering.
In these contexts, chil illustrates how spiritual terror manifests physically. For instance, in Jeremiah 6:24, the people’s hearts are described as feeling chil because of the approaching enemy, suggesting a paralyzing dread that affects their very posture. Similarly, Job uses the term to describe his own anguish, linking his deep sorrow to a bodily experience of pain.
The related feminine form, chilah, appears in Job 6:10, where Job speaks of his agony. This variation reinforces the idea that such suffering is all-consuming, affecting both mind and body. Translators often render chil as "agony" or "anguish," but these English words can feel abstract. The Hebrew term grounds the experience in the physical reality of trembling and pain, offering a vivid picture of despair.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face overwhelming fear or deep sorrow, our bodies often react before our minds can process what is happening. This Hebrew word describes that raw, physical sensation of agony where strength drains away and pain feels like labor contractions. It reminds us that spiritual distress is not just a mental state but a visceral experience that shakes our very posture.
In Jeremiah 6:24, the people felt this anguish as they heard reports of approaching enemies, their hands becoming feeble with dread. Job also uses this language to describe his own suffering, showing that even the most faithful can feel physically overwhelmed by grief. Recognizing this connection helps us see that our physical reactions to stress are part of the human condition, not a failure of faith.
This word invites us to bring our whole selves to God, including the trembling and the pain. It validates the reality of suffering while pointing toward a God who understands both the mind and the body. We can find comfort in knowing that our distress is seen and acknowledged in Scripture.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- anguish5×
- in/ anguish1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִ֖יל4×
- חִ֣יל1×
- בְ֭/חִילָה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 6:24
We have heard its report. Our hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor.
This verse shows how collective fear of an enemy manifests as physical weakness and labor-like pain, illustrating the word's connection to national crisis.
-
Job 6:10
Let it still be my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Job uses this term to describe his personal consolation in enduring intense pain without denying God, highlighting individual suffering.
-
Micah 4:9
Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pains have taken hold of you as of a woman in travail?
The prophet asks why the people cry out with such agony, linking their physical pain to a perceived absence of divine leadership.