Lexical Definition

‎חִידָה‎ chîydâh (khee-daw') riddle ^H:N-F
from ‎חוּד‎

dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle.

• a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim

1) riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question
1a) riddle (dark obscure utterance)
1b) riddle, enigma (to be guessed)
1c) perplexing questions (difficult)
1d) double dealing (with 'havin')

See Greek: αἴνιγμα · διήγεσις

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: a.chi.dah (‎א‎ֲ‎ח‎ִ‎יד‎ָ‎ה‎ "riddle" אֲחִידָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎חִידָה‎ noun feminine riddle, enigmatic, perplexing saying or question; — absolute ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Judg 14:12 + 6 t.; suffix ‎חִידָתִי‎ Judg 14:18; Ps 49:5* ‎חִידָֽתְךָ‎ Judg 14:13 plural absolute ‎חִידוֺת‎ 1Kgs 10:1 + 4 t.; ‎חִידֹת‎ Num 12:8 suffix ‎חִידֹתָם‎ Prov 1:6 —

1. riddle = dark, obscure utterance Num 12:8 (J E; opposed to ‎פֶּהאֶֿלפֶּֿה‎ and ‎מַרְאֶה‎); of something put indirectly and needing interpretation; — an allegory ‎׳‎‎חוד ח‎ Ezek 17:2 (|| ‎מְשֹׁל‎ ‎מָשָׁל‎); allegorical and figurative sayings Prov 1:6 (|| ‎מְלִיצָה מָשָׁל‎ and ‎בְרֵי חֲכָמִים‎ Di); enigmatic sentences and comparisons, declaring fate of Chaldeans Hab 2:6 (+ ‎מְלִיצָה‎; || ‎מָשָׁל‎), perplexing moral problem Ps 49:5* (with ‎פָּתַח‎ open, propound; || ‎מָשָׁל‎), a lesson taught indirectly Ps 78:2 (‎מִנִּי קֶדֶם‎ ‎׳‎‎ח‎, with ‎הִבִּיעַ‎; || ‎מָשָׁל‎).

2. riddle, enigma, to be guessed, in Judg 14:
a. with vb. ‎חוּד‎ Judg 14:12; Judg 14:13; Judg 14:16 propound a riddle.
b. with vb. ‎הִגִּיד‎ tell (give answer to) a riddle Judg 14:14; Judg 14:15; Judg 14:17; Judg 14:19.
c. with vb. ‎מצא‎ find out a riddle Judg 14:18.

3. perplexing questions by which queen of Sheba put Solomon to the test (‎נִסָּה‎) 1Kgs 10:1 = 2Chr 9:1.

4. with ‎הֵבִין‎ skilled in double-dealing Dan 8:23 (Bev).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References