מִחְיָה (mich.yah)
mich.yah
recovery
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun michyah centers on the idea of preservation and the sustaining of life. It appears in contexts ranging from the physical maintenance of existence to the specific provision of food that keeps people alive. In Leviticus, it often relates to the sustenance required for survival, highlighting how essential resources are tied directly to the continuation of life itself.
A striking nuance emerges in Judges 19:18 and 21:19, where the word shifts from general preservation to refer specifically to "live flesh" or raw meat. This concrete usage underscores the primal nature of sustenance; it is not just about abstract survival but the tangible, physical nourishment that restores strength. The term bridges the gap between the biological need for food and the broader concept of being kept alive.
Its root connects to the idea of reviving or restoring vitality. When Ezra uses it in Ezra 9:8, it carries the weight of God’s mercy in preserving a remnant against extinction. Translators often render it as "sustenance" or "preservation," capturing both the act of keeping alive and the means by which that life is maintained.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word michyah points to the quiet, steady provision that keeps us alive. It is not merely about surviving a crisis, but about the daily sustenance that preserves life itself. In Genesis 45:5, Joseph uses this concept to remind his brothers that God’s plan was to preserve life through their difficult circumstances. This perspective shifts our focus from our immediate pain to the longer arc of God’s care.
Even when resources feel scarce, as seen in Judges 6:4 where enemies took all sustenance, the underlying hope remains that God provides what is needed for survival. Ezra 9:8 and 9:9 show this word carrying the weight of revival after exile. It reminds us that grace often comes as a small but vital stake in our existence, allowing us to rebuild and find strength again.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- reviving2×
- sustenance1×
- for/ preservation of life1×
- and/ sustenance/ your1×
- and/ a raw spot of1×
- [the] raw spot of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִֽחְיָה֙1×
- מִֽחְיָ֥ה1×
- מִֽחְיָ֗ה1×
- מִֽחְיַ֣ת1×
- לְ/מִֽחְיָ֔ה1×
- וּ/מִחְיָתֶ֑/ךָ1×
- וּ/מִֽחְיַ֛ת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 45:5
Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
This verse uses the word to describe God's sovereign purpose to preserve life through difficult human actions.
-
Ezra 9:8
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.
Here it signifies the small measure of grace that allowed a remnant to survive and find hope in bondage.
-
Judges 6:4
They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
The word highlights the total deprivation of sustenance, emphasizing how essential provision is for national survival.