Original Word: חֵץ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chets
Pronunciation: khayts
Phonetic Spelling: (khayts)
KJV: + archer, arrow, dart, shaft, staff, wound
NASB: arrows, arrow, shaft, wound
Word Origin: [from H2686 (חָצַץ - To divide)]

1. (properly) a piercer, i.e. an arrow
2. (by implication) a wound
3. (figuratively, of God) thunder-bolt
4. (by interchange for H6086) the shaft of a spear

archer, arrow, dart, shaft, staff, wound

From chatsats; properly, a piercer, i.e. An arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; (by interchange for ets) the shaft of a spear -- + archer, arrow, dart, shaft, staff, wound.

see HEBREW chatsats

see HEBREW ets

Word Origin
from chatsats
Definition
arrow
NASB Translation
archers* (1), arrow (14), arrows (36), shaft (1), wound (1).

חֵץ noun masculine^{1Samuel 20:20} arrow, mostly in poetry and prophets (compare חֵצִי above below חצה) — absolute ׳ח Psalm 91:5 9t. + 1 Samuel 17:7 Kt (Qr עֵץ q. v.); construct id. 2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 3:17; 2 Kings 13:17; suffix חִצִּי Job 34:6, חִצּוֺ Psalm 58:8; Zechariah 9:14, חִצָּם Psalm 11:2; Psalm 64:4; Plural חִצִּים Genesis 49:23 17t. + 1 Samuel 20:38 Qr (Kt חֵ֫צִי q. v.) + 2 Samuel 22:15 (< חִצָּיו "" Psalm 18:15); construct חִצֵּת Job 6:4; Psalm 120:4 + Ezekiel 5:16 (Co חִצַּי compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hi); חִצַּי Deuteronomy 32:23,42 (Ezekiel 5:16 see above), חִצֶּיךָ Psalm 38:3 4t.; חִצָּיו Isaiah 5:28 5t.; — arrow:

1 literally, shot from bow by hand 1 Samuel 20:20,21 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 20:22 (ᵐ5 We singular, i.e. הַחֵצִי, in 1 Samuel 20:21; 1 Samuel 20:22, see also Dr) 1 Samuel 20:36; 1 Samuel 20:38 Qr 2 Kings 19:32 = Isaiah 37:33; Isaiah 5:28; Isaiah 7:24; Jeremiah 50:9,14; Jeremiah 51:11; Ezekiel 39:3,9; 1 Chronicles 12:2; shot from engine of war 2Chronicles 26:15; used in divination Ezekiel 21:26 compare 2 Kings 13:15 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 13:17 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 13:18; בַּעֲלֵי חִצִּים = archers Genesis 49:23.

2 figurative of Israel's weapons Numbers 24:8, of the (Messianic) king Psalm 45:6, of Yahweh's judgments Deuteronomy 32:23,42; Job 6:4 (compare חִצִּי = my wound Job 34:6), Psalm 7:14; Psalm 38:3; Psalm 58:8 (but on text compare Che^{critical note}.) Psalm 64:8; Psalm 120:4 (? compare Che); further Proverbs 7:23; Lamentations 3:12; Ezekiel 5:16; in theoph. Psalm 18:15 = 2 Samuel 22:15, compare Habakkuk 3:11; Zechariah 9:14; Psalm 144:6; of wicked men's violence Psalm 11:2; compare Psalm 91:5, under figure of lion's teeth Psalm 57:5; their words Psalm 64:4 compare Proverbs 25:18; Jeremiah 9:8; simile, of strength and efficiency derived from one's children, Psalm 127:4; of a deceiver's words Proverbs 26:18; metaphor of servant of ׳בָּרוּר י ׳ח Isaiah 49:2. — In 1 Samuel 17:7 read עֵץ (for חֵץ) as Qr and "" 2 Samuel 21:19 = the shaft; see עֵץ; so Klo Dr.

Definition and Scope

חֵץ denotes the “arrow,” the small, feathered missile shot from a bow. The word appears about forty-four times across the Hebrew canon, spanning historical narrative, poetry, wisdom, and prophetic material. Its literal and metaphorical uses illuminate Israel’s warfare, worship, wisdom, and hope.

Historical Narrative: Arrow in the Hand of Man

1. Personal Combat and Royal Warfare
• Jehu’s well-aimed shaft ended the reign of Joram (2 Kings 9:24).
• An unnamed soldier’s “random” shot fulfilled Micaiah’s prophecy and felled Ahab (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chronicles 18:33).
• Josiah was mortally wounded at Megiddo when “the archers shot King Josiah” (2 Chronicles 35:23).
2. Strategic Symbolism
• Under Elisha’s direction, Joash of Israel opened an east-facing window and shot “the arrow of the LORD’s victory” toward Aram (2 Kings 13:17). Elisha’s command to strike the remaining arrows (2 Kings 13:18-19) showed that faith’s obedience determines the measure of victory.
3. Covenant Signals
• Jonathan used arrow signals to protect David from Saul (1 Samuel 20:20-38). The weapon became a covert means of covenant loyalty, illustrating how ordinary objects serve extraordinary purposes in God’s providence.

Military Technology and Tactics

Scripture speaks of “quivers,” “bows,” and “expert warriors” (Jeremiah 50:9). Arrows could be tipped with iron (Job 41:28), sometimes dipped in poison (Job 6:4; Psalm 7:13), and occasionally lit with fire (Psalm 120:4). Their speed and range made them the ancient equivalent of today’s guided munitions, feared for their ability to strike from concealment (Psalm 11:2).

Poetic and Wisdom Literature: Arrow in the Hand of God

1. Divine Warrior Motif
• “He shot His arrows and scattered them” (Psalm 18:14).
• “Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies” (Psalm 45:5).
• Habakkuk 3:9 pictures the LORD unsheathing His bow and summoning “many arrows,” stressing His sovereign arsenal.
2. Personal Lament
• Job laments, “The arrows of the Almighty are in me” (Job 6:4), testifying that human suffering can feel like divinely-directed missiles.
• Jeremiah echoes: “He pierced my kidneys with His arrows” (Lamentations 3:13).
3. Wisdom Imagery
• Proverbs 7:23 warns that sin’s allure ends “as an arrow pierces the liver.”
• Proverbs 25:18 likens false testimony to “a sharp arrow,” exposing the destructive potential of deceitful words.
4. Family Heritage
• Psalm 127:4 compares “sons born in one’s youth” to “arrows in the hand of a warrior,” underscoring purposeful, directed upbringing.

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions

1. Judgment on the Nations
• The Song of Moses records God saying, “I will heap calamities upon them; I will spend My arrows against them” (Deuteronomy 32:23).
• Jeremiah commands Babylon’s foes, “Shoot at her! Spare no arrows” (Jeremiah 50:14).
2. Messianic Foreshadowing
• Isaiah’s Servant testifies, “He made Me a polished arrow; in His quiver He hid Me” (Isaiah 49:2), portraying the Messiah as YHWH’s perfectly crafted projectile, released at the fullness of time.
• Zechariah foresees that “the LORD will appear over them… His arrow will flash like lightning” (Zechariah 9:14), anticipating decisive eschatological victory.

Metaphor for Speech and Intention

Arrows symbolize words that can wound or heal. “They aim bitter words like arrows” (Psalm 64:3); “Their tongue is a deadly arrow” (Jeremiah 9:8). The imagery challenges God’s people to sanctify their speech, aligning it with truth rather than treachery.

Theological and Redemptive Significance

1. Sovereignty and Providence

No arrow flies outside divine oversight. A “random” shot fulfills prophecy (1 Kings 22:34). God can withhold arrows to grant peace (Psalm 46:9) or unleash them to execute judgment (Psalm 7:13).
2. Faith and Obedience

Elisha’s object lesson (2 Kings 13:15-19) shows that limited obedience restricts God’s blessings. The believer must “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16), trusting the LORD for both offense and defense.
3. Christological Fulfillment

Messiah, the polished arrow, was hidden until His advent and then sent with pinpoint accuracy to accomplish redemption. At the cross He absorbed the Father’s arrows of judgment so that repentant sinners might never experience them.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Parental discipleship: deliberately “aim” children toward kingdom purposes (Psalm 127:4-5).
• Preaching and teaching: deliver truth with clarity and conviction, avoiding the “deadly arrows” of deceitful speech.
• Spiritual warfare: rely on faith’s shield and God’s Word as both defense and offensive “arrow” (Isaiah 49:2; Ephesians 6:17).
• Pastoral care: help sufferers like Job see that even painful “arrows” are ultimately under God’s compassionate governance.

Selected Key References for Further Study

Deuteronomy 32:23-42; 1 Samuel 20:20-38; 2 Kings 9:24; 2 Kings 13:15-19; 1 Kings 22:34; Psalm 18:14; Psalm 45:5; Psalm 64:3; Psalm 127:4; Proverbs 7:23; Isaiah 49:2; Jeremiah 50:14; Habakkuk 3:9; Zechariah 9:14.

Conclusion

חֵץ serves as a vivid thread weaving through Israel’s story—from battlefield to prayer closet, from parental quiver to prophetic vision. Whether literal shaft or metaphorical message, the arrow testifies to a God who directs history with unerring accuracy and calls His people to live, speak, and trust with the same purposeful precision.

בַּֽחִצִּים֙ בחצים הַחִצִּים֮ החצים וְחִצִּ֑ים וְחִצִּֽים׃ וְחִצֶּ֕יךָ וְחִצָּ֥יו וְחֵ֣ץ וְעֵ֣ץ וּבְחִצִּ֔ים וּבַחִצִּ֖ים ובחצים וחץ וחציו וחציך וחצים וחצים׃ ועץ חִ֝צֶּ֗יךָ חִ֝צָּ֗יו חִ֝צָּ֗ם חִ֝צָּ֗יו חִ֭צֶּיךָ חִ֭צָּיו חִצִּ֖ים חִצִּ֣י חִצִּ֥ים חִצִּֽים׃ חִצֵּ֣י חִצֵּ֪י חִצֵּי֩ חִצֶּ֗יךָ חִצֶּ֙יךָ֙ חִצַּ֖י חִצַּי֙ חִצָּ֣ם חִצָּיו֙ חִצּ֑וֹ חֵ֑ץ חֵ֡ץ חֵ֥ץ חֵץ־ חץ חץ־ חצו חצי חציו חציך חצים חצים׃ חצם כְּחִצִּ֥ים כחצים לְחֵ֣ץ לַחֵֽץ׃ לחץ לחץ׃ מֵ֝חֵ֗ץ מחץ ba·ḥiṣ·ṣîm bachitzTzim baḥiṣṣîm chetz chitzTzai chitzTzam chitzTzav chitzTzei Chitztzeicha chitzTzi chitzTzim chitzTzo ha·ḥiṣ·ṣîm hachitzTzim haḥiṣṣîm ḥêṣ ḥêṣ- ḥiṣ·ṣām ḥiṣ·ṣāw ḥiṣ·ṣay ḥiṣ·ṣê ḥiṣ·ṣe·ḵā ḥiṣ·ṣî ḥiṣ·ṣîm ḥiṣ·ṣōw ḥiṣṣām ḥiṣṣāw ḥiṣṣay ḥiṣṣê ḥiṣṣeḵā ḥiṣṣî ḥiṣṣîm ḥiṣṣōw kə·ḥiṣ·ṣîm kechitzTzim kəḥiṣṣîm la·ḥêṣ laChetz laḥêṣ lə·ḥêṣ leChetz ləḥêṣ mê·ḥêṣ meChetz mêḥêṣ ū·ḇa·ḥiṣ·ṣîm ū·ḇə·ḥiṣ·ṣîm ūḇaḥiṣṣîm ūḇəḥiṣṣîm uvachitzTzim uvechitzTzim veChetz vechitzTzav vechitzTzeicha vechitzTzim veEtz wə‘êṣ wə·‘êṣ wə·ḥêṣ wə·ḥiṣ·ṣāw wə·ḥiṣ·ṣe·ḵā wə·ḥiṣ·ṣîm wəḥêṣ wəḥiṣṣāw wəḥiṣṣeḵā wəḥiṣṣîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts