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חַ֫יִל244 H2428
Conj-w | N-proper-fs  |  234× in 5 senses
Army, military force; valor, bravery; wealth, riches; strength, power, might; ability, competence, virtue.
One of the Hebrew Bible's most versatile nouns, chayil radiates outward from a core idea of vigorous capacity. It names the massed army that Pharaoh loses in the sea (Exod 14:28), the heroic valor of a gibbor chayil (mighty warrior, Judg 6:12), the material wealth God gives power to produce (Deut 8:18), and the moral excellence of the eshet chayil, the 'woman of virtue' in Proverbs 31:10. Arabic splits these senses cleanly — جيش for army, شجاعة for valor, ثروة for wealth, قوة for strength — confirming that what Hebrew holds together in one lexeme, other languages distinguish. The theological thread is that all genuine chayil, whether military, economic, or moral, ultimately derives from God.

Senses
1. army, military force An organized military force: army, troops, host. The most frequent sense (99 occurrences), appearing throughout narrative and prophecy. Pharaoh's chayil perishes in the sea (Exod 14:28), Joshua musters Israel's chayil for Ai (Josh 8:3), and prophets foretell the destruction of foreign chayilot (armies). Arabic جيش, Korean 군대, and Swahili jeshi consistently distinguish this military sense from the others. 99×
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Power, Force Power and Miracles
AR["الْجُنُودِ", "الْجُيُوشِ", "جَيْشُ", "جَيْشُ-", "جَيْشِ"]·ben["সেনাবাহিনী", "সৈন্য", "সৈন্য-", "সৈন্যদল", "সৈন্যদল-", "সৈন্যদলের", "সৈন্যের"]·DE["Heer", "Heer-von", "Heer-von-", "Kraft", "der-Heere"]·EN["army-of", "army-of-", "the-armies", "the-army-of", "the-army-of-"]·FR["armée", "armée-de", "armée-de-", "force", "le-armées"]·heb["ה-חיילים", "ה-חילים", "חיל", "חיל-"]·HI["सेना", "सेना-", "सेनाओं-ה", "सैन्य", "सैन्य-", "सैन्य-शक्ति", "ह-सेनाओं"]·ID["pasukan", "tentara", "tentara-"]·IT["esercito", "esercito-di", "esercito-di-", "il-eserciti"]·jav["wadya-bala", "wadya-bala-", "wadyabala", "wadyabala-"]·KO["군대", "군대-가", "군대가", "군대가-", "군대를", "그-군대들의", "그-군대의"]·PT["exército-de", "exército-de-", "o-exército-de", "o-exército-de-", "os-exércitos"]·RU["войск", "войска", "войске", "войско", "войско-"]·ES["ejército-de", "ejército-de-", "las-fuerzas", "los-ejércitos"]·SW["-", "jeshi", "jeshi-la", "jeshi-la-", "lote", "majeshi"]·TR["orduların", "ordusu", "ordusu-", "ordusuna", "ordusunu-", "ordusunun", "ordusunun-"]·urd["فوج", "فوج-نے", "فوجوں-کے", "لشکر", "لشکر-", "لشکر-نے", "لشکر-نے-", "لشکروں-کے"]
2. valor, bravery in battle Martial valor, prowess, or heroic courage — the quality of a warrior rather than the force itself. Found in the construct ish chayil ('man of valor,' Judg 18:2; 1 Sam 9:1) and the phrase asah chayil ('to act valiantly,' Num 24:18; Ps 60:14). Spanish distinguishes 'valor' from 'ejército,' and German uses 'Tapferkeit' rather than 'Heer,' marking this as a qualitative rather than collective noun. 77×
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Power, Force Power and Miracles
AR["بَأسٍ", "بَأْس", "بَأْسٍ"]·ben["বীর", "শক্তিমান", "শক্তির", "শক্তিশালী", "সৈন্যদলের", "সৈন্যের"]·DE["Kraft"]·EN["valor"]·FR["armée"]·heb["חיל"]·HI["-शक्ति-के", "बलवान", "वीर", "शक्ति-के", "शूर", "सेना-का", "सेना-के"]·ID["-perkasa", "gagah-perkasa", "perkasa"]·IT["esercito"]·jav["ing-kekiyatan", "kekiyatan", "kiyat", "prakosa", "prawira", "rosa"]·KO["용맹", "힘", "힘-의", "힘의"]·PT["força", "valor", "§"]·RU["доблести", "силы"]·ES["fuerza", "valor"]·SW["jasiri", "nguvu", "ushujaa", "wa-nguvu", "wenye-nguvu"]·TR["gücün", "güçlü", "ordunun", "yiğit"]·urd["بہادر", "جنگی", "طاقت-کا", "طاقت-کے"]
3. wealth, riches, property Wealth, riches, material possessions. The economic capacity of a person or community (Gen 34:29; Deut 8:17–18; Job 5:5). Arabic ثروة, Korean 재물/재산, and Swahili utajiri all converge on the financial sense. Theologically charged in Deuteronomy 8:18, where God 'gives you power to produce chayil (wealth),' tying economic abundance to divine provision. 31×
QUANTITY_NUMBER Whole, Unite, Part, Divide Mixed Multitude
AR["الثَّرْوَةَ", "ثَروَةٌ", "ثَرْوَةً", "ثَرْوَةَ", "ثَرْوَةُ", "ثَرْوَتَكَ", "ثَرْوَتَكِ", "ثَرْوَتَهُم", "ثَرْوَتُكِ", "ثَرْوَتُهُمْ", "ثَرْوَتِهِم", "ثَرْوَتِهِمْ", "غَنِيمَةَ"]·ben["তাদের-সম্পদ", "তোমার-সম্পদ", "সম্পদ", "সম্পদ-তাদের", "সম্পদ।"]·DE["Heer", "Kraft", "Reichtum", "der-Reichtum", "ihr-Heer", "ihr-Reichtum", "in-Heer"]·EN["Your-wealth", "in-wealth", "is-the-wealth-of", "the-wealth", "their-wealth", "wealth", "wealth-of", "wealth-your", "your-wealth"]·FR["armée", "force", "le-wealth", "leur-wealth", "vaillance", "wealth"]·heb["ה-חיל", "חיל", "חיל-ם", "חילך", "חילם"]·HI["उनकी-संपत्ति", "तेरा-धन", "धन", "धन-अपना", "धन-अपने", "धन-उनका", "धन-तेरा", "धन-में", "सम्पत्ति"]·ID["harta", "harta-mereka", "kekayaan", "kekayaan-mereka", "kekayaan-mu", "kekayaan;", "kekayaanmu,", "kekayaanmu;"]·IT["esercito", "il-ricchezza", "loro-ricchezza", "potenza", "ricchezza", "valore"]·jav["Bandha-panjenengan", "Kasugihan", "bandha", "bandhanipun", "ing-dinten", "kasugihan", "kasugihan-panjenengan", "kasugihan-panjenengan,", "kasugihan-saking", "raja-brana"]·KO["그-재물을", "그들-의-재산-을", "그들의-재산을", "너의-재물을", "재물-그들의", "재물-이", "재물-이다", "재물을", "재물을-너의", "재물이", "재산-을"]·PT["Riqueza", "Tua-força", "esta-riqueza", "riqueza", "riqueza-de", "riquezas", "seus-bens", "sua-riqueza", "tua-força,", "tua-riqueza", "tuas-riquezas"]·RU["-богатство", "богатство", "богатство-", "богатство-своё", "богатство-твоё", "достояние-", "имущество", "имущество-их"]·ES["Riqueza-tuya", "Riquezas", "esta-riqueza", "la-riqueza-de", "riqueza", "riqueza-de", "riqueza-tuya", "riquezas", "su-riqueza", "tu-riqueza", "tus-riquezas"]·SW["Utajiri-wako", "mali", "mali-ya", "mali-zao", "utajiri", "utajiri-wa", "utajiri-wako", "utajiri-wao", "za-", "zao"]·TR["servatin", "servet", "serveti", "serveti-", "servetin", "servetini", "servetini-", "servetlerini-onların", "zenginligi", "zenginlik", "zenginliklerine", "zenginliklerini"]·urd["اُن-کی-دولت", "اپنا-مال", "اپنی-دولت", "تیری-دولت", "دولت", "دولت-اُن-کی", "دولت-اپنی", "دولت-تیری", "دَولَت", "ہ-دولت"]
4. strength, power, might Physical or abstract strength, power, might — the raw force exerted by a person, horse, or God. Found in poetry especially (Ps 18:33, 40; Ps 33:17; Hab 3:19). Arabic قوة, Korean 힘, and Swahili nguvu consistently mark this as raw capacity rather than organized troops or personal bravery. In 2 Sam 22:33, 40 it is God who 'girds me with chayil.' 22×
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Power, Force Power and Miracles
amh["ሀይሉን"]·AR["-قوته", "بِ-قُوَّتِكَ", "بِالْجَيْشِ", "بِقُوَّةٍ", "قُوَّةً", "قُوَّةٌ", "قُوَّةٍ", "قُوَّتَكَ", "قُوَّتَهُما", "قُوَّتِكَ", "قُوَّتِهِ", "قُوَّتِي", "مِنْ-قُوَّةٍ", "هِ-حَيِل", "وَ-حَيَلِيم", "ٱلْبَأْسِ"]·ben["আমার-শক্তি", "এবং-শক্তিসমূহ", "তাদের-শক্তি", "তার-শক্তিতে", "তার-সম্পদ", "তোমার-শক্তি", "তোমার-শক্তিতে", "তোমার-শক্তির", "বল", "বলে", "শক্তি", "শক্তি-থেকে", "শক্তি-সহ", "শক্তিতে", "শক্তির", "সেনার"]·ces["jeho-vojska"]·dan["hans-rigdom,"]·DE["Heer", "Kraft", "Staerke", "dein-Heer", "der-wealth", "durch-dein-Heer", "in-Heer", "mit-Heer", "sein-Heer", "seine-Streitmacht", "und-Kraft", "von-Heer"]·ell["δύναμή-αυτού,"]·EN["Your-power", "and-strength", "by-Your-power", "by-might", "from-strength", "his-wealth", "in-strength", "is-my-strength", "its-strength", "strength", "the-wealth", "their-wealth", "with-force", "with-strength", "your-strength"]·FR["armée", "avec-force", "dans-vaillance", "de-vaillance", "et-vaillance", "force", "le-vaillance", "le-wealth", "sa-force,", "ton-vaillance-toi", "vaillance"]·guj["તેની-સેનાને"]·hat["fos-li"]·hau["arzikinsa"]·heb["ב-חיל", "ב-חיל-ך", "ה-חיל", "ו-חילים", "חֵילם", "חיל", "חיל-ו", "חילו", "חילי", "חילך", "מ-חיל"]·HI["अपनी-शक्ति-से", "उस-की-सेना-को", "और-शक्ति", "तेरी-सेना-के", "बल-अपने", "बल-से", "में-सेना", "मेरी-शक्ति", "शक्ति", "शक्ति-अपनी", "शक्ति-अपनी।", "शक्ति-के", "शक्ति-में", "शक्ति-से", "सेना-से", "हख्खयिल-के"]·hun["haderejét"]·ID["dalam-kekuatan", "dari-kekuatan", "dengan-kekuatan", "dengan-keperkasaan", "kekuatan", "kekuatan-Mu", "kekuatan-mereka.", "kekuatanku;", "kekuatanmu", "kekuatannya", "kuat", "maka-kekuatan", "perkasa", "tentara"]·IT["con-potenza", "e-valore", "esercito", "forza", "il-valore", "il-wealth", "in-esercito", "la-sua-ricchezza", "valore", "valore-tuo"]·jav["badhé-ndadosaken", "bala-prajurit", "kakiyatan", "kakiyatan-kawula", "kakiyatan-nipun", "kakiyatanipun", "kanthi-wadya", "kiyat", "lan-kakiyatan", "mawi-wadya-bala", "saking-kakiyatan", "wadya-bala-Paduka"]·JA["彼の富-を"]·KO["군대로-", "그-군대-의", "그-힘-으로도", "그들의-힘-을", "그리고-힘들", "그의-군대를", "나-의-힘-이시라", "네-힘을", "당신-의-능력-의", "에-세력로", "주-의-힘-으로", "힘", "힘-에서", "힘-으로", "힘-의", "힘에서", "힘으로"]·mar["सैन्य-त्याचे।"]·mya["သူ၏-စည်းဥစ္စာကို"]·nld["zijn-leger"]·nor["hæren-hans"]·pnb["فوج-اُسدی"]·pol["wojska-jego"]·PT["a-força", "com-força", "de-Teu-poder", "de-força", "e-forças", "em-poder", "força", "força-sua", "minha-força", "por-poder", "por-teu-poder", "sua-força", "sua-riqueza", "tua-força"]·ron["averea-lui,"]·RU["войска", "войска-его", "войском", "от-силы", "с-силой", "сила-моя", "силе", "силой", "силой-Твоей", "силою", "силу-свою", "силу-твою", "силы,", "силы-своей", "силы-твоей", "то-силы"]·ES["con-ejército", "con-fuerza", "con-tu-poder", "de-fuerza", "el-ejército", "fuerza", "fuerza-de-ellas", "la-fuerza", "mi-fuerza", "poder", "poder?", "su-ejército", "su-fuerza", "tu-fuerza", "tu-poder", "y-fuerzas"]·SW["kutoka-nguvu", "kwa-jeshi", "kwa-nguvu-yako", "kwa-nguvu-za-jeshi", "mali-yake", "nguvu", "nguvu-yangu", "nguvu-zaidi", "nguvu-zake", "nguvu-zako", "nguvu-zao", "wa-jeshi", "ya-nguvu"]·swe["hans-styrka"]·tam["அவனுடைய-செல்வத்தை"]·tel["అతని-సంపదను"]·tgl["ng-yaman-niya"]·TH["กําลัง-ของเขา"]·TR["-de-güçle", "gucun", "gücüm-benim", "gücünle-", "gücünü", "gücünün", "gücüyle", "güe", "güç", "güçle", "güçlerini", "güçten", "orduda-", "ordunun", "ordusunu", "servette", "ve-gucler"]·ukr["війська-його"]·urd["اور-طاقتوں", "اُس-کی-دولت", "اُس-کی-قوت-سے", "اپنی-طاقت", "بَ-قُوَّت-تیری", "تیری-فوج-کے", "دولت-کے", "طاقت", "طاقت-اپنی", "طاقت-سے", "طاقت-میں", "طاقت-کے", "فوج-سے", "مِن-طاقت", "میری-طاقت"]·VI["quân-đội-của-nó"]·yor["ohun-ìní-rẹ̀;"]·yue["佢-嘅財富"]·ZH["他财物的"]
5. ability, competence, virtue Moral or practical competence, ability, excellence, virtue. The rarest but most culturally resonant sense, seen in the eshet chayil ('woman of excellence,' Prov 31:10, 29) and Jethro's advice to choose 'men of ability' (anshei chayil, Exod 18:21, 25). German 'Tüchtigkeit' (capability) and Spanish 'virtud' distinguish this from martial valor. Gen 47:6 uses it for professional competence among shepherds.
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Power, Force Power and Miracles
AR["فَضيلَةٍ", "فَضِيلَةً", "قُوَّةٍ", "كَفَاءَةٍ"]·ben["সক্ষম", "সামর্থ্যের", "সৎ", "সৎ-চরিত্রের"]·DE["Kraft", "Tüchtigkeit", "ability"]·EN["ability", "excellence", "valiantly"]·FR["capacité", "vaillance"]·heb["חיל"]·HI["योग्य", "योग्यता", "समर्थ", "समर्थ-के"]·ID["cakap", "kecakapan", "yang-berbudi"]·IT["ability", "valore"]·jav["ingkang-pinter", "kang-pinter", "kautaman", "pinunjul"]·KO["능력의", "유능한", "추하게"]·PT["capacidade", "valor", "valor,", "virtude"]·RU["доблестная", "доблесть", "способные", "способных"]·ES["capacidad", "valor", "virtud"]·SW["bora", "ushujaa", "uwezo", "wa-nguvu"]·TR["erdemle", "erdemli", "yetenekli", "yetkin"]·urd["قابل", "قابل-کے", "نیک-کی", "نیکی"]

Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)

BDB / Lexicon Reference
חַ֫יִל244 n.m. 2 K 10:2 strength, efficiency, wealth, army;—abs. ח׳ Gn 47:6 +, חָ֑יִל ψ 60:14 +, חָ֑יִל ψ 60:14 +, חֵיל Is 36:2 2 K 18:17; cstr. חֵיל Ex 14:28 + (on ψ 10:10 v. חלכה); sf. חֵילִי Jb 31:25 + 2 times; חֵילְךָ Je 15:13 +; חֵילוֹ Ex 14:4 +, etc.; pl. חֲיָלִים 1 Ch 7:5 + 19 times; sf. חֵילֵיהֶם Is 30:6;— 1. strength, usually physical: a. seld. alone (chiefly poet.) 1 S 2:4 ψ 18:33, 40 =