חַ֫יִל

From the study of Isaiah 5:22

Range of meaning

Strength, efficiency, ability; valor; army or forces; wealth and substance (Gen 34:29; Deut 8:17–18). ʾanšê ḥayil means 'capable/valiant men'. ʾēšet ḥayil means 'woman of strength/worth' (Prov 31:10; Ruth 3:11).

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'men of strength' is literal. BSB/WEB 'champions' and ESV/NASB 'valiant men' keep the military flavor. None can show all at once that ḥayil also covers ability, wealth and social standing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 18:21: Moses is told to appoint ʾanšê ḥayil, 'capable men… men of truth who hate dishonest gain', as judges over the people. Gen 47:6: 'men of ability'. 1 Kgs 1:42: 'a worthy man'. 2 Kgs 15:20: gibbôrê ha-ḥayil = the wealthy.

From the study of Isaiah 36:2

Range of meaning

Chayil means strength, capability, wealth, or an armed force. Kaved means heavy, weighty, burdensome, or massive. In other places it also means honoured, and it comes from the same root as kavod, "glory" or "weight." Together the phrase means a large, imposing army.

Against the English

"Great army" (KJV, BSB) and "large army" (WEB) give the size. YLT's "heavy force" keeps the Hebrew picture of mass and weight. No serious drift.

Used elsewhere in the period

The same phrase is used for the army Sennacherib sends in 2 Kings 18:17. Kaved describes great numbers elsewhere too: a "heavy" (numerous) people in Numbers 20:20 (Edom coming out against Israel) and in 1 Kings 10:2 ("a very great caravan"). In his own annals Sennacherib boasts that he shut Hezekiah up in Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage" and threw up earthworks against the city.

From the study of Proverbs 13:22

Range of meaning

Strength, power, ability, efficiency; an army or force; valour ('mighty man of ḥayil'); wealth, substance, property. The same word describes the 'woman of strength/worth' in Prov 31:10.

Against the English

'Wealth' is accurate. English loses the link between wealth and strength: in Hebrew a person's substance is his capacity, the power he has amassed.

Used elsewhere in the period

Wealth: Gen 34:29; Deut 8:17–18 ('my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this ḥayil'; 'it is he who gives you power to get ḥayil'); Job 20:15, 'he swallows down riches (ḥayil) and vomits them up.' Army: Exod 14:4.