חַד

חַד

one

Definition

The Hebrew word חַד (chad) is a numeral meaning 'one'. It is a shortened form of the more common word אֶחָד (echad, H259), which also means 'one'. In its single biblical occurrence, it carries the basic numerical sense of a single entity. While אֶחָד can sometimes imply unity or oneness in a compound sense (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4, 'the LORD is one'), חַד in Ezekiel 33:30 simply denotes the singular number 'one' without that deeper connotation.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 33:30. The context is a prophetic message where God tells Ezekiel that the people gather in groups and say to one another, 'Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.' The phrase in which it appears is 'אִישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו' (ish et-achiv, 'a man to his brother'), but the Masoretic Text notes a variant reading of 'אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ' (ish et-re'ehu, 'a man to his friend') as 'חַד אֶת־חַד' (chad et-chad, 'one to another'). Its usage is therefore extremely rare and appears in a specific textual variant describing mutual conversation.

Etymology

חַד (chad) is an abridged or Aramaic-influenced form of the common Hebrew numeral אֶחָד (echad, H259), meaning 'one'. This shorter form is more typical of Aramaic, a related Semitic language, and its appearance in Ezekiel may reflect linguistic contact or a stylistic variant. The root concept is that of singleness or unity.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a simple numeral, its connection to אֶחָד (echad) is theologically significant. אֶחָד is a key term in foundational texts like the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), declaring God's oneness and uniqueness. Understanding that חַד is a variant of this word highlights the linguistic unity behind the concept of 'one' in Scripture, even if this particular instance does not carry the full theological weight. As a basic numeral, its cultural understanding aligns with modern concepts of the number one. Its rare, variant usage in Ezekiel 33:30 might reflect a colloquial or dialectal form used in speech, illustrating the living, spoken dimension of biblical Hebrew alongside its standard literary forms. אֶחָד (echad, H259) — The standard and theologically significant Hebrew word for 'one', often implying a unified whole.

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