Lexical Summary chut: repairing Original Word: חוּט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance join (Aramaic) corresponding to the root of chuwt, perhaps as a denominative; to string together, i.e. (figuratively) to repair -- join. see HEBREW chuwt NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of chut Definition to repair (foundations) NASB Translation repairing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חוּט or חִיט] verb repair (foundations); — Hilph. Imperfect3masculine plural יַחִ֫יטוּ Ezra 4:12 (si vera lectio [NöGGA. Nö1884, 1018 Str§ 13 b]), rare from for יְהִיטוּן K§§ 16, 5. 26. 1 M§ 63 g. Anm., but perhaps read this, and regard as Qal (original meaning dubious; Arabic Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Context Strong’s Hebrew 2338 appears once—in the Aramaic letter preserved at Ezra 4:12: “They have already completed the walls and repaired the foundations”. The word is part of the verb clause reporting the work being done on the ruined city. The hostile officials of Samaria wrote this report to intimidate Artaxerxes and halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem that had been authorized in earlier Persian decrees (Ezra 1:2-4; Ezra 5:13). Historical Implications 1. Persian Policy. Artaxerxes’ predecessors allowed subject peoples to restore native cults, provided loyalty was maintained. The opponents therefore accuse the Jews of fortifying a city that had once resisted imperial control (2 Kings 24:20-25:7). Theological Insights • Restoration from Ruin. The vocabulary places emphasis on work begun from the ground up. Spiritually, the exiles had to rebuild their identity beginning with the “foundation” of obedience to God’s word (Ezra 3:2). Prophetic Resonance Jerusalem’s repaired foundations anticipate the eschatological city whose “foundations are in the holy mountains” (Psalm 87:1) and the heavenly Jerusalem that “has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The opposition in Ezra foreshadows the end-time assault against God’s dwelling but likewise guarantees its ultimate vindication (Revelation 21:2-3). Lessons for Modern Ministry • Start with foundations. Biblical proclamation and discipleship form the groundwork for any enduring work of God (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Summary Though recorded only once, Strong’s 2338 encapsulates the critical moment when God’s people moved from ruin toward restoration. Set within the wider redemptive narrative, it testifies that divine purposes advance—even through opposition—until the foundations of His kingdom are fully and eternally established. Forms and Transliterations יַחִֽיטוּ׃ יחיטו׃ ya·ḥî·ṭū yaChitu yaḥîṭūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:12 HEB: ק) וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖א יַחִֽיטוּ׃ NAS: the walls and repairing the foundations. KJV: the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations. INT: complete the foundations and repairing 1 Occurrence |