and (feminine) חִילָה; from חוּל; a throe (expectant of childbirth); pain, pang, sorrow.
Transliteration:chîyl
Pronunciation:kheel
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H2427}}` (חִיל / chîyl), and its feminine form חִילָה (chîylah), derives from the verbal root `{{H2342}}` (חוּל / chûwl), which conveys the sense of twisting, writhing, trembling, or being in pain, often specifically related to childbirth. Thus, the core meaning of `{{H2427}}` is a "throe" or "pang," particularly those associated with labor. This denotes an intense, involuntary, and often agonizing physical and emotional experience. Beyond the literal context of childbirth, its semantic range extends to encompass any severe pain, anguish, trembling, or sorrow that causes one to writhe or be overwhelmed. It describes a profound internal or external distress that grips an individual or a collective, characterized by its intensity, inevitability, and often, its transformative nature, much like the process of birth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H2427}}` appears primarily in prophetic and poetic books, frequently employed metaphorically to describe overwhelming distress, divine judgment, or national calamity.
* In [[Psalm 48:6]], `{{H2427}}` is used in parallel with "trembling" (רְעָדָה) to depict the panic that seized kings confronting Zion, likened to the pangs of a woman in labor. This highlights the sudden, inescapable, and disorienting nature of the terror.
* Prophetic texts frequently utilize this imagery to convey the severity of impending judgment. [[Isaiah 13:8]], describing the day of the Lord against Babylon, states that "pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will writhe like a woman in labor." Similarly, [[Jeremiah 6:24]] and [[Jeremiah 13:21]] speak of "pangs as of a woman in labor" seizing those facing divine wrath or invasion, emphasizing the inescapable nature of the coming distress.
* [[Hosea 13:13]] uses `{{H2427}}` more literally, describing "the pangs of childbirth come upon him," in a context lamenting Ephraim's spiritual immaturity and resistance to divine discipline, likening it to a child unwilling to be born.
* [[Micah 4:9]] asks, "Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor?" Here, the imagery underscores the deep distress and apparent helplessness of Jerusalem, stripped of its leadership, facing imminent destruction.
Across these contexts, `{{H2427}}` consistently portrays pain that is intense, gripping, and often a precursor to a significant, albeit painful, change or outcome.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root `{{H2342}}` (חוּל / chûwl), from which `{{H2427}}` is derived. This root encompasses a range of meanings including to writhe, tremble, dance, bring forth, or be in pain, all suggesting a dynamic, often agitated, movement. The noun `{{H2427}}` captures the *experience* of this writhing or pain.
Other related terms that denote pain or distress include:
* `{{H6735}}` (צִיר / tsiyr): Often paired with `{{H2427}}` (e.g., [[Isaiah 13:8]]), also meaning pangs, pain, or anguish.
* `{{H6869}}` (צער / tsa'ar): Sorrow, pain, distress, often emotional or mental.
* `{{H4341}}` (מַכְאוֹב / mak'ov): Pain, sorrow, often describing physical suffering or deep grief.
The concept of "birth pangs" in biblical thought is also intrinsically linked to the "Day of the Lord" or the "Messianic Woes" (cf. `{{G5605}}` in the New Testament), signifying a period of intense suffering preceding a new era or divine intervention.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2427}}` is profound, primarily serving as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and the inescapable consequences of sin. The "pangs of childbirth" imagery conveys:
1. **Inevitable and Intense Suffering:** Just as labor pains are unavoidable for a woman in childbirth, so too is divine judgment for a rebellious people. The pain is depicted as overwhelming and all-consuming.
2. **Transformative Process:** While painful, childbirth leads to new life. The use of `{{H2427}}` in prophetic contexts often implies that the judgment, though severe, is part of God's sovereign plan to bring about a new spiritual reality, purification, or restoration for His people. It is a crucible of suffering that precedes new beginnings, even if these beginnings are not immediately apparent to those enduring the pain.
3. **God's Sovereignty and Justice:** The imagery underscores God's absolute control over history and His unwavering commitment to justice. The "pangs" are not random but instruments in His hands to fulfill His purposes, whether in bringing nations to account or in refining His covenant people.
### Summary
`{{H2427}}` (חִיל / chîyl) denotes intense, writhing pain, particularly the throes of childbirth. Derived from `{{H2342}}` (חוּל), it conveys an experience of overwhelming distress that is often involuntary and gripping. In biblical literature, it is frequently employed as a powerful metaphor in prophetic warnings of divine judgment and national calamity, emphasizing the inescapable, sudden, and agonizing nature of God's impending wrath. Theologically, `{{H2427}}` highlights the severity of sin's consequences, God's unwavering justice, and the transformative, albeit painful, process through which divine purposes are accomplished, often leading to a new, albeit hard-won, era.
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