הֵיךְ
how?
Definition
הֵיךְ (hêyk) is an interrogative adverb meaning 'how?' or 'in what way?'. It is a variant form of the more common אֵיךְ (ʾêyk, H349). In its two biblical occurrences, it expresses a sense of astonishment or dismay, questioning the manner or possibility of a situation. In 1 Chronicles 13:12, David asks 'How can I bring the ark of God to me?' after Uzzah's death, conveying shock and fear. In Daniel 10:17, the prophet laments, 'How can the servant of my lord talk with my lord?' expressing his overwhelming physical and emotional weakness in the divine presence.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in contexts of profound human reaction to divine intervention or judgment. It appears in narrative (1 Chronicles) and prophetic/apocalyptic (Daniel) literature. In both instances, the speaker uses הֵיךְ to articulate a rhetorical question born from a crisis, highlighting human incapacity in the face of God's holiness or power. The pattern is one of awe and self-abasement.
Etymology
הֵיךְ (hêyk) is a dialectal or later variant of the standard Hebrew interrogative אֵיךְ (ʾêyk, H349), both meaning 'how?'. It shares a common Semitic root with words for 'where?' and functions as an adverbial interrogative particle. The shift in the initial consonant (from aleph to he) is a known phonetic variation in later biblical Hebrew, possibly influenced by Aramaic, where the cognate form is אֵיכָה (ʾêkâ).
Semantic Range
Though a simple interrogative, הֵיךְ appears in theologically charged moments that probe the human-divine relationship. It frames questions about God's holiness (1 Chronicles 13:12) and human frailty before divine revelation (Daniel 10:17). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the raw, emotional dimension of these encounters—they are not abstract theological queries but cries of the heart from individuals grappling with the direct implications of God's presence and actions.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, a question like 'how?' in the face of divine action often carried a tone of ritual or personal danger, not mere curiosity. David's question in 1 Chronicles 13:12 reflects the cultural understanding that improper contact with sacred objects (the Ark) could bring fatal judgment. Daniel's use mirrors a common motif in apocalyptic literature where the seer is physically overwhelmed by a visionary experience.
אֵיךְ (ʾêyk, H349) — The standard and more frequent form, identical in meaning and usage. מָה (mâ, H4100) — 'what?'; often used for questions about identity or nature, whereas הֵיךְ asks about manner or condition. לָמָּה (lâmâ, H4100) — 'why?'; questions purpose or cause, not manner.
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.
Full methodology & sources →