H2428 chayil (KHAH-yil) — strength, might, valor; also an army or wealth. Softened to "virtuous" when used of women.
Word: חַיִל · noun · Strong's H2428
In brief
Chayil means strength, power, or valor. It is the word for an army, for wealth, and for warriors. When it describes men, English Bibles usually translate it "mighty man of valor." When it describes women, they usually translate it "virtuous," "excellent," or "noble." The Hebrew word is the same. Proverbs 31 describes an eshet chayil, a woman of strength.
Where it appears
- Proverbs 31:10 — "An eshet chayil, who can find?"
- Proverbs 31:29 — "Many daughters have done chayil, but you surpass them all."
- Proverbs 12:4 — "An eshet chayil is her husband's crown."
- Ruth 3:11 — Boaz tells Ruth that the whole town knows she is an eshet chayil.
- Judges 6:12 — compare: the angel calls Gideon a gibbor he-chayil, "mighty man of valor."
- Ruth 2:1 — compare: Boaz is a gibbor chayil. Ruth and Boaz are described with the same word.
What the lexicons say
Lexicons give strength, efficiency, wealth, and army as the main senses. The word is used often of armies and soldiers.
How translations render it
| Translation | Ruth 2:1 (Boaz) | Ruth 3:11 (Ruth) |
|---|---|---|
| KJV | "a mighty man of wealth" | "a virtuous woman" |
| ESV | "a worthy man" | "a worthy woman" |
| NIV (2011) | "a man of standing" | "a woman of noble character" |
| NRSV | "a prominent rich man" | "a worthy woman" |
| CEB | "a man of worth" | "a woman of worth" |
The ESV is consistent here: "worthy" for both. Most translations are not. "Virtuous" and "noble character" turn a word about strength into a word about good behavior.
See for yourself
- Read Ruth 2:1 and 3:11. If the same word describes both, what is the narrator saying about Ruth?
- Read Proverbs 31:10–31 and replace "virtuous" or "excellent" with "valiant." What changes?
- Read Judges 6:12. Gideon is hiding when he is called chayil. Is the word describing who he already is, or who God says he is?
Related words
ish / ishah (H376 / H802, man / woman; eshet is the form of ishah in "woman of")