INTRODUCTION:

A. The Hebrew word for "valiant" is chayil.
B. This is a word that emphasizes strength.
C. The word "chayil" is found 244 times in the Old Testament.
D. It ranges from the earliest to the latest periods of Biblical Hebrew.

DISCUSSION:

I. THE MEANINGS OF THE WORD "CHAYIL."

 A. An ability or power.
  1. Ecclesiastes 10:10 translates the word as "strength" in the sense of the ability to 
   produce more power:  "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he    put to more strength..."
  2. I Samuel 2:4 uses "strength" in a common military sense.
 B. Army forces.
  1. Exodus 14:4 speaks of Pharaoh's "host" or army.
  2. II Chronicles 17:2 speaks of the "forces" Jehoshaphat placed in the fenced cities of    Judah to protect against the forces of Israel.
 C. Wealth and property as they demonstrate the ability to produce.
  1. Genesis 34:29 recounts how the sons of Jacob took the "wealth" of Shechem.
  2. Joel 2:22 calls the fruit of the fig and vine "their strength."
 D. Being able or skilled.
  1. In Genesis 34:29 Pharaoh encouraged Jacob's family to find "men of activity" that 
   could watch over his cattle.  This would mean "men of ability."
  2. In Ruth 3:11 Boaz speaks of Ruth as being known as a "virtuous" lady.  This would 
   refer to her suitability as a  wife for Boaz.
  3. In I Samuel 14:52 Saul is said to have taken into his army any "valiant" man that he    saw.  This would speak of a person's ability to serve well in the army.
 E. The upper class (those who served in the army).
  1. Nehemiah 4:2 mentions the "army" of Sanballat that he spoke before.  These would    have been the wealthy, landowner class.
  2. I Kings 10:2 speaks of the Queen of Sheba's "train."  This would have been the nobility    and wealthy people of her country.
 F. The primary form of "chayil" is chiyl or chul, meaning "to be firm or strong."
 G. The verb form of "chayil" is used twice (Psalm 10:5; Job 20:11) with the same meaning as the   primary form.
 
II. PASSAGES AND MEANINGS RELATING ESPECIALLY TO THE ASSIGNED SUBJECT.

A. Mighty men of valor (gibbor ha chayil).
  1. These were often men of war, but also men of character (Joshua 1:14; 6:2; 8:3; 10:17;    Judges 6:12;20:44,46; I Samuel 16:18).
  2. They combined might with virtue much like the romantic definitions commonly 
   ascribed to ancient knights.
 B. Sons of valor (ben-chayil).
  1. Deuteronomy 3:18 refers to them as "meet for war." They too stood out in both 
   courage and virtue.
  2. II Chronicles 28:6 shows how such "valiant men" had lost their virtue and were slain.
  3. I Kings 1:52 clearly shows that virtue can dominate the meaning of this construction.
 C. Man of valor (ish chayil).
  1. This construction is felt by many scholars to carry the meaning of "man of substance."
  2. In II Kings 24:16 the KJV translates the words as, "men of might."  The context, 
   however, speaks of capable men.
  
III. APPLICATIONS OF THE WORD STUDY.

 A. Men are to be courageous.
 B. Men are to be honorable.
 C. Men are to develop the ability to be useful in worthy undertakings.
 D. In a Christian context, men are to be valiant, able members of God's spiritual army.
  1. II Corinthians 6:1-10.
  2. II Corinthians 11:17-33.
CONCLUSIONS:

 God has always expected faithful men to be manly in disposition, noble in character, and capable in 
 ability.
B. There will always be a great need for men of valor.

        Edwin S. Jones
        Karns Church of Christ
        6612 Beaver Ridge Road
        Knoxville, TN 37931-3411