חוּב
properly, perhaps to tie, i.e. (figuratively and reflexively) to owe, or (by implication) to forfeit
Definition
The Hebrew word חוּב (chûwb) is a rare verb meaning 'to be guilty' or 'to become liable.' It carries the sense of incurring a debt or obligation, often in a legal or moral context. In its only biblical occurrence in Daniel 1:10, it describes the chief official fearing he would 'become liable' or 'incur guilt' before the king if Daniel's appearance suffered from his proposed diet. This implies a state of being held accountable for a failure or breach of duty. The word conceptually ties guilt to a tangible consequence or penalty.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Daniel 1:10. It appears in a courtly, administrative context where a royal official (the chief of the eunuchs) expresses fear of legal or punitive liability to King Nebuchadnezzar. The usage highlights a formal relationship of accountability and the potential for punishment if a commanded duty is not fulfilled, framing guilt as a matter of concrete obligation.
Etymology
Derived from a primitive root meaning 'to tie' or 'to bind.' This root idea evolved to signify being bound by an obligation, debt, or guilt. The related form חָיַב (chāyab) carries a similar sense of being guilty or indebted. The core concept connects physical binding with metaphorical or legal liability.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theme of guilt and liability before authority. In Daniel 1:10, it illustrates human accountability within a hierarchical structure, which can reflect the broader concept of accountability before God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that guilt is not just a feeling but a state of being obligated or indebted, a concept foundational to understanding sin, debt, and atonement in Scripture.
In the ancient Near Eastern court setting of Daniel, liability to a monarch like Nebuchadnezzar could result in severe punishment, including death. The official's fear reflects a culture where servants were held strictly accountable for their charges. The word's legal connotation of 'incurring guilt' would have been understood as a tangible, dangerous condition, not merely an abstract moral state.
אָשַׁם (ʾāsham, H816) — focuses more on the condition of being guilty and often involves a trespass or sin offering. חָטָא (chāṭāʾ, H2398) — the most common word for 'to sin,' meaning to miss the mark or err. עָוָה (ʿāvāh, H5753) — to bend or twist, denoting perversity or iniquity.
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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