חָכָה (cha.khah)
cha.khah
to wait
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chakâh means to wait or await, carrying a sense of patient expectation rather than passive inactivity. It appears twelve times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Isaiah, Psalms, and Job. In these contexts, it often describes waiting for God’s intervention or justice, reflecting a posture of hope and endurance.
While its basic meaning is straightforward, chakâh can imply waiting in ambush when used in the Piel stem, adding a layer of strategic anticipation. This nuance highlights that waiting in Scripture is not merely idle; it involves readiness and vigilance. For instance, in Job 14:13, the speaker wishes to be hidden until God’s wrath passes, illustrating a deep, personal longing for relief and restoration.
This word underscores the theological weight of patience in the face of suffering or delay. It challenges readers to consider how they wait on God—whether with anxiety or with steadfast trust. By examining chakâh, we gain insight into the biblical understanding of hope as an active, enduring stance before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Waiting in Scripture is rarely a passive state of doing nothing. The Hebrew word chakâh describes an active, expectant stance. It suggests that while we may feel stuck or delayed, our hearts are still tuned to God’s timing. This kind of waiting requires patience and trust, especially when answers seem far away.
In Isaiah 30:18, the text reminds us that God Himself waits with purpose. He delays not out of indifference, but to show mercy and justice. When we wait on Him, we join in this divine rhythm. It is a time for hope rather than fear, knowing that God’s plans will come to pass.
Even in difficult seasons, such as those described in Job or Psalms, waiting becomes an act of faith. We do not wait because we have all the answers, but because we trust the One who does. This posture allows us to find peace amid uncertainty, anchored in the belief that God is working even when we cannot see it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wait2×
- you must delay1×
- those/ [who] long1×
- they waited1×
- it waits1×
- he is waiting1×
- he had waited1×
- and/ we will delay1×
- and/ as/ wait for1×
- and/ I will wait1×
- [those who] wait1×
- [is] the/ [one who] waits1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְחַכֶּֽה\׃1×
- יְחַכֶּ֤ה1×
- חַכּוּ\־1×
- חַכֵּה\־1×
- חִכָּ֣ה1×
- חִכְּתָ֣ה1×
- חִ֝כּ֗וּ1×
- ח֥וֹכֵי1×
- וּ/כְ/חַכֵּ֨י1×
- וְ/חִכִּ֛ינוּ1×
- וְ/חִכִּ֙יתִי֙1×
- הַֽ/מְחַכֶּ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:18
Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.
This verse highlights God's intentional patience, showing that His delay is an opportunity for grace and mercy rather than a sign of absence.
-
Psalms 33:20
Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.
Here the psalmist connects waiting directly to trust in God as both helper and protector, framing it as a source of security.
-
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it, because it will surely come. It won’t delay.
The command to wait is tied to the certainty of the vision’s fulfillment, encouraging endurance despite the apparent delay.
-
Job 32:4
Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he.
Elihu’s decision to wait for his elders demonstrates respect and discernment, showing that waiting can also be a sign of wisdom and humility.