Original Word: חַי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (khah'-ee)
KJV: life, that liveth, living
NASB: living, life, living man, who lives
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H241 (אוֹזֶן - ear)8]

1. alive
2. (as noun in plural) life

life, that lives, living

(Aramaic) from chaya'; alive; also (as noun in plural) life -- life, that liveth, living.

see HEBREW chaya'

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to chay
Definition
living
NASB Translation
life (2), living (3), living man (1), who lives (1).

Overview

חַי (chay) designates life, livingness, or the state of being alive. In the Aramaic passages of Ezra and Daniel it appears seven times, spanning royal petitions, cosmic decrees, confessions of faith, and eschatological vision. The word clusters around two main themes: the dependence of creaturely life on God, and the self-existent vitality of God Himself.

Occurrences and Immediate Settings

• Ezra 6:10 – Persian officials order sacrifices “to pray for the lives of the king and his sons,” acknowledging the fragility of royal power before the God of heaven.
• Daniel 2:30 – Daniel testifies that the mystery was revealed to him, not because he was wiser “than any other living,” but for God’s redemptive purpose toward the king.
• Daniel 4:17 – The heavenly decree is issued “so that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men,” turning world history into a lesson for every living creature.
• Daniel 4:34 – Nebuchadnezzar blesses Him “who lives forever,” contrasting divine eternality with human transience.
• Daniel 6:20, 26 – Twice Darius speaks of “the living God,” whose continual activity rescues Daniel and whose dominion will never end.
• Daniel 7:12 – The other beasts are granted “an extension of life,” highlighting God’s sovereignty over empires and the times allotted to them.

The Living God

חַי is most theologically weighty when applied to God. In Daniel 6:26, the decree reads, “For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end”. The phrase “living God” proclaims:

1. Divine self-existence—God’s life is underived and inexhaustible.
2. Ongoing involvement—He acts within history, intervening to save (Daniel 6:20) and to judge (Daniel 4:17).
3. Absolute kingship—His living nature guarantees an unending reign, foreshadowing the everlasting kingdom of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14).

Creaturely Life under Divine Sovereignty

When חַי refers to human life (Ezra 6:10; Daniel 2:30; 7:12), it is always contingent:
• Kings and empires depend on prayer (Ezra 6:10) and divine decree (Daniel 4:17).
• Wisdom, influence, and survival are gifts, not entitlements (Daniel 2:30).
• Dominion can be removed or extended at God’s discretion (Daniel 7:12).

Doctrinal Reflections

1. Providence: Every “living” authority in the Persian and Babylonian court is subject to the Most High.
2. Immortality and Resurrection Hope: By stressing God as “He who lives forever,” Daniel provides the groundwork for the later revelation of bodily resurrection in Daniel 12:2-3.
3. Christological Foreshadowing: The title “living God” anticipates New Testament declarations (“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Matthew 16:16), underscoring continuity between Testaments.

Ministry Application

• Prayer for Authorities – Ezra 6:10 legitimizes intercession for secular rulers, seeking their welfare under God’s ultimate rule (compare 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
• Humble Service – Daniel’s acknowledgment in 2:30 models humility for those entrusted with revelation or leadership.
• Assurance in Persecution – Daniel 6 encourages believers that the living God still delivers, strengthening resolve amid opposition.
• Evangelistic Witness – Nebuchadnezzar and Darius publicly confess God’s living nature after experiencing His power; modern proclamation should likewise testify to the active, life-giving sovereignty of God.

Eschatological Perspective

Daniel 7:12’s limited extension of life to the beasts sets the stage for the final victory of the Son of Man. The transient life of worldly powers contrasts with the eternal life promised to the saints (Daniel 7:18, 27). חַי thus underlines the sure transition from temporal kingdoms to the everlasting kingdom.

Summary

חַי in Ezra and Daniel binds together the frailty of human life, the temporal nature of earthly rule, and the eternal vitality of God. Its seven occurrences trace a line from prayerful dependence to eschatological triumph, inviting every generation to trust, worship, and proclaim the living God who grants, governs, and redeems life.

בְחַיִּ֛ין בחיין וּלְחַ֥י ולחי חַ֠יַּיָּא חַיַּיָּ֔א חַיָּ֔א חַיָּ֗א חיא חייא לְחַיֵּ֥י לחיי ḇə·ḥay·yîn ḇəḥayyîn chaiYa chaiyaiYa ḥay·yā ḥay·yay·yā ḥayyā ḥayyayyā lə·ḥay·yê lechaiYei ləḥayyê ū·lə·ḥay uleChai ūləḥay vechaiYinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts