Lexical Summary chaya: To live, to be alive, to revive, to restore to life Original Word: חֲיָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance live, keep alive (Aramaic) or chayah (Aramaic) {khah-yaw'}; corresponding to chayah; to live -- live, keep alive. see HEBREW chayah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to chayah Definition to live NASB Translation live (5), spared alive (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חֲיָא] verb live (see Biblical Hebrew תָיָה); — Pe`al Imperative לְעָֽלְמִין חֱיִי live for ever! Daniel 2:4; Daniel 3:9; Daniel 5:10; Daniel 6:7,22. Hiph`il Participle מַחֵא (K§ 11. 3 b) γ) HptKmp. Dn. 28) Daniel 5:19 let live. Topical Lexicon Linguistic Background and Concept of LifeAramaic חֲיָא (chaya) parallels Hebrew חַי, conveying “life, living, alive.” In Daniel it appears either as a wish for the king’s continued existence or as the act of preserving life. The root therefore spans both the blessing of longevity and the concrete power to spare or take life. Historical and Cultural Setting Throughout the ancient Near East, court officials greeted a monarch with the formula “O king, live forever.” Contemporary cuneiform letters and Aramaic papyri confirm the practice, underscoring the authenticity of Daniel’s setting in Babylon and Medo-Persia. The salutation expressed loyalty, acknowledged that the king’s well-being meant national stability, and served as prudent diplomacy in volatile courts. Distribution in Scripture Six occurrences, all in Daniel’s Aramaic chapters: • Daniel 2:4 The first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses contain the royal acclamation; the fourth occurrence (Daniel 5:19) employs the term for the king’s power to “keep alive.” The Royal Acclamation “O king, may you live forever!” The greeting is voiced by court astrologers (Daniel 2:4), jealous officials (Daniel 3:9), the queen mother (Daniel 5:10), conspirators (Daniel 6:6), and Daniel himself after deliverance from the lions (Daniel 6:21). Its recurrence from diverse speakers—faithful and hostile—highlights: 1. Court protocol rather than personal affection. Life and Sovereignty in Daniel 5:19 When Daniel recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s supremacy, he declares, “Whomever he wished, he kept alive” (Daniel 5:19). The same root behind the loyal greeting now exposes human limitation: a king who could prolong others’ lives could not secure his own. The perspective shifts from earthly to divine sovereignty as Belshazzar falls that very night (Daniel 5:30). Theological Insights • God alone possesses inherent, everlasting life. The earthly wish “live forever” anticipates the confession that “His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 4:34). Ministry Significance • Intercession: The formula encourages believers to pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), seeking stability that fosters gospel advance. Summary Strong’s Hebrew (Aramaic) 2418 חֲיָא threads through Daniel as a courtly wish and a reminder of divine prerogative over life. It prompts respect for earthly rulers, underscores the transience of human power, and directs hope to the one true King whose life and kingdom endure forever. Forms and Transliterations חֱיִ֔י חֱיִֽי׃ חיי חיי׃ מַחֵ֔א מחא cheYi ḥĕ·yî ḥĕyî ma·ḥê maChe maḥêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:4 HEB: מַלְכָּא֙ לְעָלְמִ֣ין חֱיִ֔י אֱמַ֥ר חֶלְמָ֛א NAS: O king, live forever! KJV: O king, live for ever: INT: king forever live Tell the dream Daniel 3:9 Daniel 5:10 Daniel 5:19 Daniel 6:6 Daniel 6:21 6 Occurrences |
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