Chavaʾ (H2244) describes hiding or concealing, often of a person hiding themselves. It appears in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve hid among the trees from God's presence. The word captures the reflexive shame-driven concealment that follows sin.
The hiding after Eden (chavaʾ, Gen 3:8) is the primal pattern of sin's effect: broken fellowship and the impulse to conceal. Throughout Scripture, God calls the hidden out — 'Where are you?' (Gen 3:9). Ultimately, Christ calls us from hiding into light (John 3:20–21). Perfect love casts out fear, the fear that drives us to hide.