Lexical Summary chub: To hide, to withdraw, to cover Original Word: חוּב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance endanger Also chayab {khaw-yab'}; a primitive root; properly, perhaps to tie, i.e. (figuratively and reflexively) to owe, or (by implication) to forfeit -- make endanger. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be guilty NASB Translation forfeit (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חוּב] verb be guilty (Late Hebrew id., be under obligation, guilty; Aramaic  , חוּב, be defeated, guilty; Arabic  be disappointed, fail; — Arabic  ,  sin, is loan-word according to Bev Daniel 1:10); — Qal not in MT; but read perhaps חַבְתִּי (for סַבֹּתִי) 1 Samuel 22:22 I am guilty, so ᵑ6 Th We Dr. Pi`el Perfect inculpate וְחִיַּבְתֶּם אתרֿאֹשִׁי לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ consecutive Daniel 1:10 and inculpate my head with the king. Topical Lexicon Scriptural ContextThe verb חוּב appears once in the Hebrew canon, Daniel 1:10, within the narrative of Judean exiles in the Babylonian court. Ashpenaz, the chief official, has been ordered to nourish Daniel and his companions with royal delicacies, yet he hesitates to grant their request for a different diet lest they “endanger” (חוּב) his head before Nebuchadnezzar. In the Berean Standard Bible the verse reads: “but he said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.’ ” The word pictures the threat of personal liability—an obligation that could cost the official his life if the king is displeased. Liability and Accountability before Human Authority The single usage underscores a critical principle: those charged with stewardship are accountable for the outcomes of their decisions. In the Ancient Near East, a royal servant’s “head” was literally at stake; negligence or defiance could bring capital punishment. By invoking חוּב, Ashpenaz voices the genuine peril of being found guilty in the eyes of a supreme authority. Scripture consistently affirms that earthly leaders answer to higher powers (Romans 13:1–4) and that subordinates in turn answer to those leaders. Daniel’s situation illustrates how godly convictions intersect with structures of delegated authority. Faithful Conviction versus Fear of Man Although חוּב focuses on human liability, the wider narrative highlights a higher accountability to God. Daniel balances respect for Ashpenaz’s legitimate concern with unwavering fidelity to divine law. His proposed ten-day test (Daniel 1:12–14) protects the official from blame while leaving room for God’s intervention. Believers are thereby reminded that wise, gracious negotiation can honor both heavenly and earthly obligations, aligning with the apostolic exhortation to “keep a clear conscience before God and men” (Acts 24:16). Historical Background Nebuchadnezzar’s policy of assimilating gifted captives aimed to secure loyalty and cultural homogenization. Refusal of royal food risked appearing rebellious, potentially jeopardizing the official’s standing. The Persian and later Hellenistic courts retained similar protocols whereby attendants bore immediate responsibility for a king’s welfare and satisfaction. Thus חוּב captures not merely emotional unease but a codified legal peril embedded in imperial bureaucracy. Broader Biblical Themes 1. Stewardship: From Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39:4–6) to Paul’s teaching on eldership (Titus 1:7), Scripture delineates spheres of responsibility and warns of culpability for mismanagement. Ministry Implications • Leaders and servants alike must weigh decisions that could “incur guilt” upon themselves or others, seeking actions that satisfy both moral conviction and institutional duty. Summary Though appearing only once, חוּב provides a vivid window into ancient accountability, the tension between divine obedience and human authority, and God’s providential care for those who resolve to remain undefiled. Forms and Transliterations וְחִיַּבְתֶּ֥ם וחיבתם vechiyavTem wə·ḥî·yaḇ·tem wəḥîyaḇtemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 1:10 HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר כְּגִֽילְכֶ֔ם וְחִיַּבְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־ רֹאשִׁ֖י NAS: are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head KJV: which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head INT: who exceedingly endanger my head to the king 1 Occurrence |
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