Chedvah is a noun meaning joy or gladness, appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible — both times in the post-exilic writings of Ezra and Nehemiah (written partly in Aramaic). The related Aramaic form chedvah shares the same root. It describes the deep corporate joy of God's people when they gather in worship, particularly associated with the joy of the Lord as strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 contains one of the most famous lines in all of Scripture: 'the joy [chedvah] of the LORD is your strength.' In context, Israel wept when they heard the law read aloud — but Nehemiah called them to feast and celebrate because their understanding of God's Word was cause for great joy, not mourning. This is a profound theological reversal: the law that exposed sin also announced forgiveness and restoration. The joy of knowing God sustains His people through affliction.