2324. chava
Lexical Summary
chava: To show, declare, make known

Original Word: חֲוָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chava'
Pronunciation: khaw-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khav-aw')
KJV: shew
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H2331 (חָוָה - To declare)]

1. to show

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
show

(Aramaic) corresponding to chavah; to show -- shew.

see HEBREW chavah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
see chavah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[חֲוָה] verb Pa. Haph`el (M§ 65 c) declare (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew III. [חָוָה] (late)); —

Pa`el with accusative מִּשְׁרָא (or equivalent ): Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יְחַוִּנַּ֫נִי (suffix person Indirect object) Daniel 5:7, יְּחֵוִנֵּהּ Daniel 2:11 (קֳדָּם person); 1 singular אֲחַוֶה Daniel 2:24 (ל of person), 1 plural אְחַוֶּה Daniel 2:4.

Haph`el usually with accusative פִשְׁרָא (or equivalent ): Imperfect3masculine singular יְהַחֲוֶה Daniel 5:12; 2masculine plural תְּהַחֲוֺן Daniel 2:6, suffix (of indirect object) תְחַחֲוֻ֫נַּנִי Daniel 2:9; 1plural נְהַחֲוֶה Daniel 2:7; Imperative masculine plural suffix (of indirect object) הַחֲוֺ֑נִי Daniel 2:6; Infinitive לְהַחֲוָיָה Daniel 2:10; Daniel 5:15; + ל person Daniel 2:16. Daniel 2:27; with accusative of signs and wonders Daniel 3:32.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning in Context

In every appearance of חֲוָא the narrative centers on disclosure: hidden dreams, mysterious writings, and the interpretation of both. The verb always answers the question, “Who can make this known?” and the consistent reply is that only the God of heaven grants such insight. Thus the word functions less as a neutral term for “telling” and more as a theological signal that revelation is a divine prerogative.

Occurrence Pattern in Daniel

1. Daniel 2:4, 6-7, 9-11, 16, 24, 27 – The Babylonian wise men first claim they can “show” the dream, then confess their inability. Daniel, by contrast, approaches the king with confidence that “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
2. Daniel 4:2 – Nebuchadnezzar publicly “declares” what God has done for him after his humbling.
3. Daniel 5:7, 12, 15 – At Belshazzar’s feast the term resurfaces when none can “show” the meaning of the handwriting, until Daniel is summoned.

The concentration in chapters 2, 4, and 5 frames the entire historical section of the book: Babylon’s might is repeatedly humbled by the One who discloses what no earthly kingdom can uncover.

Theological Themes

Revelation versus Human Limitation

Daniel 2:10: “No one on earth can do what the king requests; no king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.” The immediate context exalts God’s omniscience over human wisdom.

Divine Sovereignty in World Events

When Daniel “shows” the dream and its meaning, he simultaneously unveils God’s control of future empires. Revelation is inseparable from providence.

Public Testimony

Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation in Daniel 4:2 demonstrates that revealed truth is meant to be broadcast: “It is my pleasure to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.” חֲוָא thus moves from private insight to public witness.

Historical Setting

The Babylonian and early Medo-Persian courts prized omens, dreams, and inscriptions. Competence in dream-reading was politically valuable, yet when true revelation was required, Babylon’s professionals failed. The Jewish exile Daniel becomes the court’s indispensable counselor, fulfilling Israel’s vocation to be a light among the nations even in captivity.

Intertextual Echoes

Genesis 41 mirrors the pattern as Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, underscoring a long biblical motif: God grants His servants knowledge that pagans cannot access. Amos 3:7 affirms, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” In the New Testament Paul applies the same principle to the Gospel: “God has revealed it to us by the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Ministry Implications

1. Dependence on God for Spiritual Insight

Pastoral teaching, prophetic ministry, and evangelism rely on divine revelation, not ingenuity. Prayer precedes proclamation, just as Daniel and his friends sought mercies “from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” (Daniel 2:18).

2. Boldness in Public Witness

Once God makes truth known, His servants are to declare it without reserve. Daniel spoke before monarchs; believers today speak before cultures equally confident in their own wisdom.

3. Integrity and Humility

Daniel consistently deflects credit: “This mystery has not been revealed to me because I have greater wisdom than other men” (Daniel 2:30). Genuine revelation produces humility, not self-exaltation.

Practical Application

Believers reading Daniel’s narrative are invited to trust that God still discloses His purposes through Scripture and by His Spirit. In moments of confusion—whether personal, ecclesial, or societal—the proper response echoes Daniel’s: seek the face of God, receive His Word, and then unashamedly חֲוָא—make it known.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲחַוֵּֽא׃ אחוא׃ הַחֲוֹֽנִי׃ החוני׃ יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃ יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי יְחַוִּנַּ֖הּ יהחוה׃ יחונה יחונני לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְהַחֲוָיָ֑ה לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃ להחויה להחויה׃ נְהַחֲוֵֽה׃ נְחַוֵּֽא׃ נהחוה׃ נחוא׃ תְּֽהַחֲוֹ֔ן תְּהַחֲוֻנַּֽנִי׃ תהחון תהחונני׃ ’ă·ḥaw·wê ’ăḥawwê achavVe ha·ḥă·wō·nî hachaVoni haḥăwōnî lə·ha·ḥă·wā·yāh lehachavaYah ləhaḥăwāyāh nə·ha·ḥă·wêh nə·ḥaw·wê nechavVe nehachaVeh nəhaḥăwêh nəḥawwê tə·ha·ḥă·wōn tə·ha·ḥă·wun·na·nî tehachaVon tehachavunNani təhaḥăwōn təhaḥăwunnanî yə·ha·ḥă·wêh yə·ḥaw·win·na·nî yə·ḥaw·win·nah yechavvinNah yechavvinNani yeHachaVeh yəhaḥăwêh yəḥawwinnah yəḥawwinnanî
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 2:4
HEB: ק) וּפִשְׁרָ֥א נְחַוֵּֽא׃
KJV: the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
INT: servant the interpretation will shew

Daniel 2:6
HEB: חֶלְמָ֤א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ תְּֽהַחֲוֹ֔ן מַתְּנָ֤ן וּנְבִזְבָּה֙
KJV: But if ye shew the dream,
INT: the dream interpretation shew gifts reward

Daniel 2:6
HEB: חֶלְמָ֥א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ הַחֲוֹֽנִי׃
KJV: therefore shew me the dream,
INT: the dream interpretation shew

Daniel 2:7
HEB: לְעַבְד֖וֹהִי וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה נְהַחֲוֵֽה׃
KJV: the dream, and we will shew the interpretation
INT: to his servants the interpretation will shew

Daniel 2:9
HEB: דִּ֥י פִשְׁרֵ֖הּ תְּהַחֲוֻנַּֽנִי׃
KJV: that ye can shew me the interpretation
INT: its interpretation shew

Daniel 2:10
HEB: מַלְכָּ֔א יוּכַ֖ל לְהַחֲוָיָ֑ה כָּל־ קֳבֵ֗ל
KJV: that can shew the king's
INT: the king could shew of any according to

Daniel 2:11
HEB: אִיתַ֔י דִּ֥י יְחַוִּנַּ֖הּ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א
KJV: other that can shew it before
INT: and there who shew before to the king

Daniel 2:16
HEB: לֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ פ
KJV: him time, and that he would shew the king
INT: give the interpretation shew to the king

Daniel 2:24
HEB: וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְמַלְכָּ֥א אֲחַוֵּֽא׃ ס
KJV: the king, and I will shew unto the king
INT: the interpretation to the king will shew

Daniel 2:27
HEB: גָּזְרִ֔ין יָכְלִ֖ין לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
KJV: the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
INT: diviners are able shew the king

Daniel 4:2
HEB: שְׁפַ֥ר קָֽדָמַ֖י לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃
KJV: it good to shew the signs
INT: has seemed thought to shew

Daniel 5:7
HEB: דְנָ֗ה וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א יִלְבַּ֗שׁ
KJV: writing, and shew me the interpretation
INT: this interpretation and shew purple shall be clothed

Daniel 5:12
HEB: יִתְקְרֵ֖י וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃ פ
KJV: be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
INT: be summoned the interpretation will shew

Daniel 5:15
HEB: פְּשַֽׁר־ מִלְּתָ֖א לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃
KJV: not shew the interpretation
INT: the interpretation of the message shew

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2324
14 Occurrences


’ă·ḥaw·wê — 1 Occ.
ha·ḥă·wō·nî — 1 Occ.
lə·ha·ḥă·wā·yāh — 5 Occ.
nə·ḥaw·wê — 1 Occ.
nə·ha·ḥă·wêh — 1 Occ.
tə·ha·ḥă·wōn — 1 Occ.
tə·ha·ḥă·wun·na·nî — 1 Occ.
yə·ḥaw·win·nah — 1 Occ.
yə·ḥaw·win·na·nî — 1 Occ.
yə·ha·ḥă·wêh — 1 Occ.

2323
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