Definition

properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert

Etymology

or חִיל; a primitive root;

Where the KJV renders it

• bear
• (make to) bring forth
• (make to) calve
• dance
• drive away
• fall grievously (with pain)
• fear
• form
• great
• grieve
• (be) grievous
• hope
• look
• make
• be in pain
• be much (sore) pained
• rest
• shake
• shapen
• (be) sorrow(-ful)
• stay
• tarry
• travail (with pain)
• tremble
• trust
• wait carefully (patiently)
• be wounded

Every distinct English word the King James Version uses to translate this Hebrew term. The variety shows what readers in English receive across many different surface words — the same underlying word, scattered across the English Bible under different names.

What the first audience heard

A deep-dive treatment of this word is in the works. The featured chapter above carries the long form of what this word meant to its first audience.