Original Word: חָבָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chaba'
Pronunciation: khaw-BAW
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-baw')
KJV: X held, hide (self), do secretly
NASB: hidden, hid, hide, hiding, becomes hard, concealed, hides
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to secrete

held, hide self, do secretly

A primitive root (compare chabab); to secrete -- X held, hide (self), do secretly.

see HEBREW chabab

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to withdraw, hide
NASB Translation
becomes hard (1), concealed (1), hid (10), hidden (11), hide (5), hides (1), hiding (2), hushed (1), secretly (1).

[חָבָא] verb withdraw, hide (not in

Qal); compare also חבה (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic ; Ethiopic Assyrian —abû Dl^{Pr 175}; ᵑ7 Ethpa`al hide oneself) —

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נֶחְבָּא Judges 9:5 + 1 Samuel 10:22; 2 Samuel 17:9 (both may be participle); נַחְבֵּאתָ Genesis 31:37; ׳וְנַחְ consecutive 1 Samuel 19:2; נֶחְבְּאוּֿ Joshua 10:27; נֶחְבָּ֑אוּ Job 29:8,10; Imperfect2masculine singular תֵּחָבֵא Job 5:21; Infinitive construct הֵחָבֵא2Chronicles 18:24; Daniel 10:7; Participle plural (compare also above) נֶחְבְּאִים Joshua 10:17, etc. — hide oneself in fear Genesis 3:10 (J), Joshua 10:16,17,27 (all J E), Judges 9:5; 1 Samuel 19:2; 2 Samuel 17:9; Amos 9:3; 2Chronicles 18:24; Daniel 10:7; from modesty 1 Samuel 10:22; compare Job 29:8; also לָ֫מָּה נַחְבֵּאתָ לִבְרֹחַ Genesis 31:27 (E), i.e. why didst thou flee secretly? passive, be hidden Job 29:10 קול נְגִידִים נְחְבָ֑אוּ ("" ולשׁונם לְחִכָּם דָּבֵ֑קָה, compare also see 9) i.e. in reverence, = hushed (so we speak of a veiled voice); be hidden for protection בִּשׁוֺט לָשׁוֺן Job 5:21.

Pu`al Perfect3plural חֻבְּאוּ have been hidden (= are made to hide themselves, Di on the passage) Job 24:4.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular suffix הֶחְבִּיאָ֑נִי Isaiah 49:2; 3feminine singular הֶחְבְּאַ֔תָֹה Joshua 6:17, compare Ges^{§ 75}, Rem. 21 a Kö^{i. 624 ff. etc.}; Imperfect וַיַּחְבִּיאֵם 1 Kings 18:4; 3feminine singular וַתַּחְבִּא 2 Kings 6:29; וָאַחְבִּא 1 Kings 18:13; — hide, transitive, with accusative Joshua 6:17,25; 1 Kings 18:4,13; 2 Kings 6:29; metaphor, of divine protection Isaiah 49:2 ׳בְּצֵל יָדוֺ ה.

Hoph`al Perfect be hidden הָחְבָּ֑אוּ Isaiah 42:22 (בְּבָתֵּי כלאים), i.e. imprisoned.

Hithpa`el Perfect הִתְחַבְּאוּ 1 Samuel 14:11; Imperfect יִתְחַבֵּא 1 Samuel 23:23; ׳וַיִּתְ Genesis 3:8; יִתְחַבָּ֑אוּ Job 38:30; וַיִּתְחַבְּאוּ 1 Samuel 13:6; Participle מִתְחַבֵּא 2 Kings 11:3 2t.; מִתְחַבְּאִים 1 Samuel 14:22; 1 Chronicles 21:20; —

1 draw back, hide oneself, usually with בְּ local; Genesis 3:8 (J), 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 14:11,22; 1 Samuel 23:23; 2 Kings 11:3; 1 Chronicles 21:20; 2Chronicles 22:9,12.

2 draw together, thicken, harden, of water becoming ice Job 38:30 כאבן ׳מים יִתְחַ.

Core Theme

חָבָא portrays deliberate concealment. Whether people attempt to mask sin, lurk for violence, or retreat from danger, the verb always implies purposeful hiding—never mere disappearance. Because its object is commonly the eye of God or man, it exposes the futility of pretending that the Almighty cannot see every recess of the human heart.

Distribution in Scripture

Roughly a third of its thirty-three appearances cluster in the book of Job, giving the term a distinctively “wisdom” flavor. The remainder surface in Psalms, Proverbs, and a scattering of prophetic and narrative contexts. In every case the motif of hiding forms a sharp counterpoint to the biblical insistence on divine omniscience.

Representative Passages

Job 24:4 “They push the needy off the road; the poor of the land are forced into hiding.”

Job 34:22 “There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.”

Job 40:13 “Hide them together in the dust; shroud their faces in the grave.”

Psalm 10:8 “He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent.”

Proverbs 28:28 “When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.”

Patterns of Usage

1. Personal anguish (Job 3:10; Job 6:10). The sufferer wishes that sorrow had been “hidden” from his eyes, highlighting the aching desire for relief that never came.
2. Criminal subterfuge (Job 24:14; Psalm 10:8). The wicked lurk in order to exploit the vulnerable, revealing the predatory nature of sin.
3. Futility before divine sight (Job 34:22; Proverbs 28:28). Even the deepest darkness cannot veil deeds from the Lord.
4. Judicial imagery (Job 40:13). Concealing the proud in dust anticipates the eschatological leveling of all arrogance.
5. Corporate response to tyranny (Isaiah 16:3; Proverbs 28:28). The righteous seek cover when oppression dominates, yet their re-emergence signals covenant hope.

Historical and Redemptive Significance

In patriarchal society caves, clefts, and city corners served as literal hiding places from raiders or avengers. Over time the physical act became a moral metaphor: Israel’s prophets announced that concealing iniquity would invite judgment (Isaiah 29:15). Wisdom writers echoed that theme, warning that “whoever hides hatred has lying lips” (Proverbs 10:18).

The Old Testament repeatedly affirms that God “searches the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). חָבָא therefore confronts the perennial temptation to manage appearances. By exposing the limits of secrecy, Scripture drives the reader toward honesty before the Lord, anticipating the New Testament call to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).

Prophetic Foreshadowing and Messianic Overtones

Isaiah 53:3 depicts the Servant as “one from whom men hide their faces.” Although a different Hebrew verb appears, the thematic link is plain: humanity would rather conceal itself—or push undesired truth aside—than confront the suffering Redeemer. The prevalence of חָבָא in Job, the Old Testament’s most sustained exploration of innocent suffering, prepares hearts to recognize the final Innocent who bore humanity’s shame.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Confession and Repentance: חָבָא unmasks the illusion that sin can be domesticated in private. Pastoral counsel urges believers to forsake hidden transgression (Psalm 32:5).
• Justice Advocacy: Passages where the poor are driven into hiding challenge the church to protect the marginalized instead of allowing them to disappear from public concern.
• Spiritual Warfare: The vocabulary of lurking and ambush reminds disciples that evil often operates covertly (Ephesians 6:11), requiring vigilance and prayer.

Pastoral Reflection

The human instinct to hide surfaced immediately after the Fall (Genesis 3:8). Yet the gospel invites believers out of concealment and into covenant fellowship. As Jesus announced, “For nothing is concealed that will not be disclosed” (Luke 8:17). A life brought into the open is not merely exposed—it is healed. Thus every occurrence of חָבָא ultimately presses toward the freedom found in transparency before the God who sees, forgives, and restores.

בְּהֵחָבֵֽא׃ בהחבא׃ הִתְחַבְּאוּ־ הֶחְבְּאַ֔תָה הֶחְבִּ֙יאָה֙ הֶחְבִּיאָ֑נִי הַמִּֽתְחַבְּאִ֤ים הָחְבָּ֑אוּ החבאו החבאתה החביאה החביאני המתחבאים התחבאו־ וְנֶחְבָּ֑אוּ וְנַחְבֵּֽאתָ׃ וַֽיַּחְבִּיאֵ֞ם וַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּ וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א וַיֵּחָבְא֥וּ וַתַּחְבִּ֖א וָאֵחָבֵֽא׃ וָאַחְבִּא֩ ואחבא ואחבא׃ ויחבאו ויחביאם ויתחבא ויתחבאו ונחבאו ונחבאת׃ ותחבא חֻ֝בְּא֗וּ חבאו יִתְחַבֵּ֣א יִתְחַבָּ֑אוּ יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ יחבאו יתחבא יתחבאו לְהֵחָבֵֽא׃ להחבא׃ מִֽתְחַבְּאִ֑ים מִתְחַבֵּ֖א מִתְחַבֵּ֣א מתחבא מתחבאים נֶחְבְּאִ֥ים נֶחְבְּאוּ־ נֶחְבָּ֑אוּ נֶחְבָּ֖א נֶחְבָּֽא׃ נֶחְבָּא֙ נַחְבֵּ֙אתָ֙ נחבא נחבא׃ נחבאו נחבאו־ נחבאים נחבאת תֵּחָבֵ֑א תחבא bə·hê·ḥā·ḇê behechaVe bəhêḥāḇê chubbeU hā·ḥə·bā·’ū hacheBau hāḥəbā’ū ham·miṯ·ḥab·bə·’îm hammitchabbeIm hammiṯḥabbə’îm hechbeAtah hechBiah hechbiAni heḥ·bə·’a·ṯāh heḥ·bî·’ā·nî heḥ·bî·’āh heḥbə’aṯāh heḥbî’āh heḥbî’ānî hiṯ·ḥab·bə·’ū- hitchabbeu hiṯḥabbə’ū- ḥub·bə·’ū ḥubbə’ū lə·hê·ḥā·ḇê lehechaVe ləhêḥāḇê miṯ·ḥab·bê miṯ·ḥab·bə·’îm mitchabBe mitchabbeIm miṯḥabbê miṯḥabbə’îm nachBeta naḥ·bê·ṯā naḥbêṯā nechBa nechBau nechbeIm nechbeu neḥ·bā neḥ·bā·’ū neḥ·bə·’îm neḥ·bə·’ū- neḥbā neḥbā’ū neḥbə’îm neḥbə’ū- tê·ḥā·ḇê techaVe têḥāḇê vaachBi vaechaVe vaiyachbiEm vaiyechaveU vaiyitchabBe vaiyitchabbeU vattachBi venachBeta venechBau wā’aḥbi wā’êḥāḇê wā·’aḥ·bi wā·’ê·ḥā·ḇê wat·taḥ·bi wattaḥbi way·yaḥ·bî·’êm way·yê·ḥā·ḇə·’ū way·yiṯ·ḥab·bê way·yiṯ·ḥab·bə·’ū wayyaḥbî’êm wayyêḥāḇə’ū wayyiṯḥabbê wayyiṯḥabbə’ū wə·naḥ·bê·ṯā wə·neḥ·bā·’ū wənaḥbêṯā wəneḥbā’ū yê·ḥā·ḇə·’ū yechaveU yêḥāḇə’ū yiṯ·ḥab·bā·’ū yiṯ·ḥab·bê yitchabBau yitchabBe yiṯḥabbā’ū yiṯḥabbêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts