The Difference Between zōē and chay
Both zōē (Greek: ζωή, G2222) and chay (Hebrew: חַי, H2416) address overlapping biblical themes — zōē carrying the sense of "life" and chay conveying "age". Each word is shaped by its own covenant and cultural context, yet together they illuminate how the Old and New Testaments speak with one voice on this theme.
Change Words
ζωή vs חַי
zōē and chay
ζωή
life (literally or figuratively)
G2222
Exegetical Meaning
life (literally or figuratively) | Etymology: from G2198 (ζάω); | KJV: life(-time)
Origin
English Glosses
Canon Usage
Context Themes
- Eternal Life as Gift
- Christ as the Source of Life
חַי
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
H2416
Exegetical Meaning
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively | Etymology: from H2421 (חָיָה); | KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
No clusters available