What does מִחְיָה · בָּשָׂר · חַי mean in the Bible?
e. the quick".
Hebrew · H4241, H1320, H2416
מִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי
Preservation of life ; hence, sustenance ; also the live flesh , i.e. the quick · flesh (from its freshness ); by extension, body , person ; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man · 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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
מִחְיָה H4241 preservation of life ; hence, sustenance ; also the live flesh , i.e. the quick
Pronunciation miḥĕyāh
Life's ongoing necessity: sustenance that preserves existence, moving from vital provisions to living tissue itself.
Open lexicon entry →
בָּשָׂר H1320 flesh (from its freshness ); by extension, body , person ; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
Pronunciation bāšār
Flesh as the vulnerable human body, emphasizing mortality, kinship, and bodily shame or nakedness.
Open lexicon entry →
חַי H2416 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
Pronunciation ḥay
Life principle extending from physical vitality (raw, fresh, strong) to covenantal presence and relational aliveness with God.
Open lexicon entry →
What does מִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי (miḥyaṯ bāśār ḥay) mean in the Bible?
מִחְיָה · בָּשָׂר · חַי is a Hebrew phrase meaning "preservation of life ; hence, sustenance ; also the live flesh , i.e. the quick".
Full entry for מִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי (H4241, H1320, H2416) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H4241, H1320, H2416?
H4241, H1320, H2416 is connected to 781 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. preservation of life ; hence, sustenance ; also the live flesh , i.e. the quick
Strong's H4241, H1320, H2416
Lexical occurrences 781 verses Source Gloss
preservation of life ; hence, sustenance ; also the live flesh , i.e. the quick
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי is built from this root:
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain