מִחְיָה
preservation of life; hence, sustenance; also the live flesh, i.e. the quick
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִחְיָה (michyâh) primarily means 'preservation of life' or 'that which sustains life.' In several passages, it refers to physical sustenance, such as food supplies needed for survival (Genesis 45:5, Judges 6:4). In Leviticus 13, it takes on a distinct medical meaning, describing 'live flesh' or 'raw flesh' that appears in a skin disease, indicating a spot where healthy tissue remains (Leviticus 13:10, 24). In post-exilic writings, the word expands to signify 'reviving' or a 'remnant' granted by God's grace for continued existence (Ezra 9:8-9).
Biblical Usage
מִחְיָה is used eight times across various contexts. Its meaning of 'sustenance' or 'victuals' appears in narratives about survival during famine (Genesis 45:5) and raids (Judges 6:4, 2 Chronicles 14:13). In Levitical law, it describes a symptom in diagnoses of skin disease (Leviticus 13:10, 24). In Ezra, it is used metaphorically for God granting a 'reviving' or a surviving remnant to the returned exiles (Ezra 9:8-9). The word in Judges 17:10 refers broadly to provisions for living.
Etymology
מִחְיָה is a noun derived from the root חָיָה (ḥāyâ, H2421), meaning 'to live,' 'to keep alive,' or 'to revive.' It is formed using the מִ (mi-) prefix, which often indicates the place, instrument, or result of an action. Thus, מִחְיָה essentially means 'that which comes from living' or 'the means of causing life.' This connection to the fundamental concept of life underpins all its uses.
Semantic Range
This word connects physical survival directly to divine providence. In stories like Joseph's (Genesis 45:5) and the post-exilic community (Ezra 9:8-9), מִחְיָה highlights that sustenance and national survival are not mere accidents but acts of God's preserving grace. Even in the context of disease (Leviticus 13), it points to the presence of remaining 'life' or health. Understanding מִחְיָה enriches reading by showing how the Bible intertwines the most basic human need—staying alive—with God's active care and purpose.
In an ancient agrarian and pastoral society, 'preservation of life' was intimately tied to food security from harvests and livestock. Raids for 'sustenance' (Judges 6:4) were acts of economic warfare. The Levitical use regarding 'live flesh' reflects a pre-scientific, observational medical culture where symptoms were carefully categorized for ritual purity rulings, not just health diagnosis.
לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — 'bread/food'; a more common, general term for food, whereas מִחְיָה emphasizes food specifically as a means of preserving life. מָזוֹן (māzôn, H4202) — 'provision, sustenance'; a close synonym, but מִחְיָה has a stronger connotation of revival from a desperate state. חַיִּים (ḥayyîm, H2416) — 'life'; the abstract state of being alive, while מִחְיָה is the concrete means that supports it.
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 →