חִידָה chidah
Hebrew word for “riddle” · Strong’s H2420 · used 17 times in 17 verses
Meaning
1) riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question;
How it is translated
Glosses given for chidah in context, with how often each is used:
- riddle 10
- riddles 3
- difficult matters 2
- parables 1
- intrigues 1
Where it is used
| Book | Uses | Per 1,000 words | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judges | 8 | 0.8 | |
| Psalms | 2 | 0.1 | |
| Numbers | 1 | 0.1 | |
| 1 Kings | 1 | 0.1 | |
| 2 Chronicles | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Proverbs | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Ezekiel | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Daniel | 1 | 0.2 | |
| Habakkuk | 1 | 1.5 |
Chapters where it is used most
Judges 14 (8), Numbers 12 (1), 1 Kings 10 (1), 2 Chronicles 9 (1), Psalms 49 (1), Psalms 78 (1), Proverbs 1 (1), Ezekiel 17 (1), Daniel 8 (1), Habakkuk 2 (1)
Forms
- החידה 5
- חידות 3
- חידה 2
- חידתי 2
- בחידות 2
- בחידת 1
- חידתך 1
- וחידתם 1
Words used with it
Words that share verses with chidah more often than their overall frequency would suggest:
- חוּד chud “to riddle” 4
- מָשָׁל mashal “proverb” 5
- נָגַד nagad “to tell” 7
- חֲלִיפָה chaliphah “change” 3
- עַז az “strong” 3
- שִׁמְשׁוֹן shimshon “Samson” 3
- מְלִיצָה melitsah “mockery” 2
- סָדִין sadin “linen” 2
- שְׁבִיעִי shevii “seventh” 3
- הֶם hem “them” 5
- מָתוֹק matoq “sweet” 2
- שְׁלֹשִׁים sheloshim “thirty” 3
Key verses
The verses using chidah that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):
- Numbers 12:8 — With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not…
- Judges 14:12 — And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then…
- Judges 14:14 — And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
- Judges 14:19 — And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto…
- 1 Kings 10:1 — And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
- 2 Chronicles 9:1 — And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels…
- Psalms 49:4 — I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
- Psalms 78:2 — I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
- Proverbs 1:6 — To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
- Ezekiel 17:2 — Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
- Daniel 8:23 — And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall…
- Habakkuk 2:6 — Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and…
See all 17 verses in the Word Atlas
Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.