Original Word: חָדַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chadash
Pronunciation: khaw-dash'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-dash')
KJV: renew, repair
NASB: renew, restore, renewed, repair, restored
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be new
2. causatively, to rebuild

renew, repair

A primitive root; to be new; causatively, to rebuild -- renew, repair.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to renew, repair
NASB Translation
renew (5), renewed (1), repair (1), restore (3), restored (1).

[חָדַשׁ] verb only

Pi`el (and

Hithpa`el) renew, repair (in poetry and late) (Late Hebrew id., Phoenician חדש; noun חדש new moon, also in קרתחדשת new-city = Carthage; Aramaic and חַדֵּשׁ; Arabic be new, Ethiopic 1. 2. renew; Sabean החדתֿ, see Os (Levy):ZMG 1865, 204 Mordt^{ZMG 1876, 30}; Assyrian [adâšu], uddiš, renew, eššu, new, etc. Dl^{W 199 ff.}) —

Pi`el Perfect וְחִדְּשׁוּ consecutive Isaiah 61:4; Imperfect וַיְחַדֵּשׁ2Chronicles 15:8; 2 masculine singular תְּחַדֵּשׁ Job 10:17; Psalm 104:30; וּנְחַדֵּשׁ 1 Samuel 11:14; Imperative חַדֵּשׁ Psalm 51:21; Infinitive לְחַדֵּשׁ2Chronicles 24:4,12; —

1 renew, make anew הַמְּלוּכָה 1 Samuel 11:14 (editorial); פני אדמה Psalm 104:30, רוּחַ Psalm 51:12 ("" בּרא); = bring back יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם Lamentations 5:21; עדיך ׳ח Job 10:17 i.e. bringest fresh (new) witnesses.

2 repair, cities Isaiah 61:4, temple 2Chronicles 24:4,12, altar 2 Chronicles 15:8.

Hithpa`el Imperfect3feminine singular תִּתְחַדֵּשׁ with plural subject כַּנֶּשֶׁר נְעוּרָ֑יְכִת ׳ת Psalm 103:5 thy youth reneweth itself, like the eagle.

Core Idea: Renewal and Restoration

חָדַשׁ (ḥāḏaš) centers on God’s power to bring something back to its intended vigor—whether a covenant, a structure, a community, the creation, or the inner life of an individual. The verb never suggests mere cosmetic change; it points to substantive renewal that accords with God’s covenant purposes.

Covenant Renewal and Kingship

• 1 Samuel 11:14 records Samuel’s call, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” The verb underscores that Saul’s monarchy, already inaugurated, needed a fresh confirmation before God and the people after victory over the Ammonites. Renewal here restores covenant order and communal confidence.

Cultic and Institutional Reformation

• In 2 Chronicles 15:8, Asa “renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the LORD.” The altar, central to sacrificial worship, had fallen into disrepair amid prior apostasy. Restoration signified a return to exclusive Yahweh worship.

• Joash follows suit in 2 Chronicles 24:4, 12, setting craftsmen to “restore the house of the LORD.” The Chronicler links temple repair to obedience to the Mosaic covenant, making physical renewal a sign of spiritual fidelity.

Personal Renewal of Heart and Spirit

• David’s plea, “renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), positions חָדַשׁ as the answer to sin and guilt. The verb depicts an act that only God can perform—re-creating moral resolve and clean conscience.

• Psalm 103:5 ascribes to the LORD the grace “who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Physical and emotional vigor mirror covenant blessings.

Cosmic and Creational Renewal

• Psalm 104:30: “When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.” The seasonal cycle of life reflects ongoing divine sustenance, tying חָדַשׁ to providential order.

Communal and Eschatological Restoration

• Isaiah 61:4 foresees the returned exiles: “They will rebuild the ancient ruins… they will renew the ruined cities.” The verb looks beyond immediate post-exilic work toward the messianic age when Zion’s desolation is reversed.

• Lamentations 5:21 cries, “Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old.” The suffering remnant seeks not mere change of circumstances but revival of covenant relationship.

Negative Usage: Intensified Oppression

• Job employs the verb ironically: “You renew Your witnesses against me” (Job 10:17). Instead of relief, Job perceives relentless waves of accusation. The contrast highlights how true renewal must stem from divine favor, not wrath.

Theological Trajectory

1. Renewal originates with God’s initiative—never human effort alone.
2. It often follows repentance or deliverance, marking turning points in redemptive history.
3. The verb anticipates the New Covenant promise of inner transformation (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and the ultimate “new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1), though the Hebrew term itself stays within Old Testament usage.
4. In ministry, חָדַשׁ encourages prayer for spiritual revival, diligent care of worship life, and hope for comprehensive restoration in Christ.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Worship leaders: prioritize continual “renewal” of heart and practice, lest rites become dilapidated like Asa’s altar.
• Pastors: preach repentance and faith as the pathway to inner renewal, following David’s model.
• Care-givers: assure believers of God’s promise to renew strength amid aging and trial (Psalm 103:5).
• Mission leaders: draw on Isaiah 61:4 to inspire urban and cultural restoration efforts grounded in gospel proclamation.

וְחִדְּשׁוּ֙ וַיְחַדֵּשׁ֙ וּ֝תְחַדֵּ֗שׁ וּנְחַדֵּ֥שׁ וחדשו ויחדש ונחדש ותחדש חַדֵּ֥שׁ חדש לְחַדֵּ֖שׁ לחדש תְּחַדֵּ֬שׁ תִּתְחַדֵּ֖שׁ תחדש תתחדש chadDesh ḥad·dêš ḥaddêš lə·ḥad·dêš lechadDesh ləḥaddêš tə·ḥad·dêš techadDesh təḥaddêš tiṯ·ḥad·dêš titchadDesh tiṯḥaddêš ū·nə·ḥad·dêš ū·ṯə·ḥad·dêš unechadDesh ūnəḥaddêš utechadDesh ūṯəḥaddêš vaychadDesh vechiddeShu way·ḥad·dêš wayḥaddêš wə·ḥid·də·šū wəḥiddəšūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts