Lexical Summary chil: Strength, power, wealth, army, valor, capability Original Word: חִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pain, pang, sorrow And (feminine) chiylah {khee-law'}; from chuwl; a throe (expectant of childbirth) -- pain, pang, sorrow. see HEBREW chuwl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chul Definition a writhing, anguish NASB Translation agony (2), anguish (2), pain (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs חִיל noun masculineExodus 15:14 a writhing, anguish; — ׳ח absolute Exodus 15:14 5t. — 1 writhing (contortions of fear) Exodus 15:14 ("" verb רָגַז). 2 anguish, always in simile כַּיּוֺלֵדָה Psalm 48:7 (allied kings against Jerusalem); Zion, before Assyrians Micah 4:9; before Scythians or Chaldeans Jeremiah 6:24 ("" צָרָה), = Jeremiah 50:43 (of king of Babylon; "" צָרָה); Jeremiah 22:23 ("" חבלים q. v.) חִילָה noun feminine anguish, Job 6:10. Topical Lexicon Overview חִיל portrays a sudden inner convulsion—physical or emotional—often described as pain like that of a woman in labor, or the trembling terror that strikes when God’s power or judgment is recognized. The term links fear and hope: fear for those resisting the LORD, hope for those who understand that labor pains presage birth and new life. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Exodus 15:14 – Nations surrounding Israel “quaked; anguish gripped the dwellers of Philistia” when they heard of the Red Sea deliverance. Anguish of Nations Confronted by God’s Mighty Acts The first biblical appearance in the Song of the Sea sets the tone: when the LORD acts for His covenant people, surrounding nations are stricken with חִיל. History supplies the illustration—Philistia, Canaan, and later imperial powers lost courage before ever drawing sword against Israel. The word therefore marks the psychological victory God secures ahead of the physical. Personal Suffering and Integrity (Job 6:10) Job’s usage is unique. He reframes the writhing normally associated with dread as an occasion for exultation. The integrity of a believer who “has not denied the words of the Holy One” can transform even relentless pain into worship. חִיל here becomes a crucible that tests and reveals fidelity. Zion’s Security Versus the Terror of Her Foes (Psalm 48:6) The psalm juxtaposes the steadfastness of God’s city with the convulsive fear of hostile kings. As they arrive, expecting conquest, they instead encounter the reality of divine presence. חִיל underscores that the real battlefield is spiritual; when God arises, worldly power collapses into fear. Prophetic Warnings of Impending Judgment (Jeremiah) Jeremiah employs חִיל to expose false confidence. Judah nestled among Lebanon’s cedars (Jeremiah 22:23) learns that privilege cannot shield from covenant curses. Likewise, Babylon’s monarch (Jeremiah 50:43), who once inflicted terror, becomes the terrified. The universality of the term’s application—God’s people and pagan nations alike—shows that all stand accountable to the same righteous Judge. Birth Pangs as a Redemptive Motif (Micah 4:9) Micah asks why the daughter of Zion cries out “like a woman in labor.” The prophet does not deny the pain; he announces that it precedes deliverance (Micah 4:10). The imagery anticipates later revelation: “all creation groans” (Romans 8:22) and “these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). Judgment and renewal are inseparable phases of God’s redemptive plan. Intertestamental and New Testament Resonance Though חִיל itself does not appear in the Greek New Testament, its concept echoes in apocalyptic passages. Christ likens end-time convulsions to labor pains; Paul hears creation’s groaning and the believer’s inward angst as part of the same process leading to glory. Thus the Old Testament term provides a theological bridge: intense upheaval is not a sign of divine absence but of imminent fulfillment. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Fear of the Lord: חִיל reminds the church that holy dread is appropriate when contemplating divine majesty. Questions for Reflection and Teaching 1. How does recognizing God’s past acts (Exodus 15) shape a believer’s response to present threats? חִיל therefore serves as both warning and comfort. It exposes the terror reserved for those who oppose God, yet it also signals the travail through which He brings forth salvation and restores His people. Forms and Transliterations בְ֭חִילָה בחילה חִ֖יל חִ֝֗יל חִ֣יל חיל ḇə·ḥî·lāh ḇəḥîlāh chil ḥîl VechilahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:14 HEB: עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י NAS: they tremble; Anguish has gripped KJV: [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold INT: the peoples tremble Anguish has gripped the inhabitants Job 6:10 Psalm 48:6 Jeremiah 6:24 Jeremiah 22:23 Jeremiah 50:43 Micah 4:9 7 Occurrences |
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