חָדָה
to rejoice
Definition
The Hebrew verb חָדָה (châdâh) primarily means 'to rejoice' or 'to be glad,' expressing a state of joy or celebration. In Exodus 18:9, it describes Jethro's gladness upon hearing of God's deliverance of Israel. A distinct nuance appears in Job 3:6, where the word is used in a negative, optative sense ('let it not rejoice'), showing it can be applied to the absence of joy or even to a metaphorical 'rejoicing' of darkness. In Psalm 21:6, the meaning intensifies to denote making someone glad, as God makes the king glad with His presence.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only three times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative (Exodus), poetry (Job), and psalmody (Psalms). Its contexts range from a human emotional response to divine salvation (Exodus 18:9) to a poetic curse wishing for the absence of joy (Job 3:6), and finally to a divine action causing royal joy (Psalm 21:6). This shows its flexibility from simple human emotion to theological action by God.
Etymology
חָדָה is a primitive root. It is related to the Arabic word 'ḥada' (to be new, fresh), suggesting a connection between joy and renewal or freshness. The root may also be linked to the Hebrew noun 'chad' (one, sharp), possibly implying a sense of singularity or intensity in the rejoicing.
Semantic Range
חָדָה highlights joy as a response to God's saving acts, as seen in Exodus 18:9. Its use in Psalm 21:6 attributes the source of the king's joy directly to God's presence and blessing, connecting divine favor with human gladness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that biblical rejoicing is often a direct result of God's intervention and character, not merely a fleeting emotion.
In ancient Israelite culture, rejoicing was often a communal, vocal, and physically expressive response to God's deeds, especially deliverance. The word's use in a curse (Job 3:6) reflects the deep poetic tradition where even abstract concepts like 'day' or 'darkness' could be personified as capable of emotion.
שָׂמַח (śāmach, H8055) — a more common general term for rejoicing or being glad. גִּיל (gîl, H1523) — often implies a spinning motion, hence a more exuberant, joyful shouting or leaping. עָלַז (ʿālaz, H5937) — denotes exulting or triumphing, often in a context of victory.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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