ya.chal denotes waiting in expectation, whether for a person, a word, relief, or God.

The verb most often marks expectant waiting directed toward a desired person, word, outcome, or God; it also describes remaining in wait for a set time, for someone to speak, or for an awaited event to arrive. The same forms occur in prayers, exhortations, narratives, and statements of frustrated expectation.

1. Expectant waiting for an anticipated outcome · dominant

   In Psalm 119:81 the first-person perfect stands with the speaker's longing for deliverance and waiting for God's word; Psalm 130:5 repeats the verb around waiting for the LORD and his word. In Isaiah 51:5 the plural imperfect describes coastlands awaiting God and his arm, while Job 30:26 contrasts awaiting good and light with the arrival of evil and darkness.

   Psalm 119:81Psalm 130:5Isaiah 51:5Job 30:26Micah 7:7Psalm 71:14
2. Remaining in wait for a person or event · common

   In 1 Samuel 10:8 the jussive addresses a man who is to wait seven days until Samuel comes and tells him what to do; Genesis 8:12 likewise places the sequential imperfect before the sending of the dove after another seven days. Job 32:11 and Job 32:16 use first-person forms for waiting while others speak or before they give a further reply.

   1 Samuel 10:8Genesis 8:121 Samuel 13:8Job 32:11Job 32:16Job 29:21

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly renders the clauses with “wait,” “waited,” or “awaited,” and in several devotional contexts uses “hope.” These English variations confirm the verse-level contexts rather than establish separate meanings for the term.