χάλαζα
chálaza
G5464 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
χάλαζα refers to solid precipitation in the form of small, hard pellets of ice, i.e., 'hail.' In various contexts, the term denotes a weather phenomenon involving the falling of hailstones from the sky, either as a natural occurrence or as a metaphor for something sudden and potentially destructive descending from above. The word can also describe the hailstones themselves, often in plural usage.
Semantic Range
hail (solid precipitation), hailstones, heavy or sudden icy precipitation, metaphorical: something falling in a hail-like manner
Root / Etymology
Derived from a probable connection with the verb χαλάω ('to loosen, let down'), possibly alluding to precipitation 'falling down' from the sky. The root may be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of hailstones falling. Cognate with related words in Classical Greek but with no certain pre-Greek or Semitic origin identified.
Historical & Contextual Notes
χάλαζα appears in Hellenistic Greek texts, including the Septuagint (LXX), where it translates Hebrew בָּרָד (barad), and in the New Testament (e.g., Revelation 8:7, 11:19, 16:21) to describe divine or extraordinary hailstorms. In classical literature, it referred broadly and descriptively to hail, distinguished from rain (ὄμβρος) or snow (χιών). Its use in apocalyptic and prophetic contexts (both in the LXX and NT) frequently implies something more massive, sudden, or destructive than typical weather, sometimes with connotations of judgment or dramatic events. English translations as 'hail' are accurate, but the term can bear intensified metaphorical weight in literary or prophetic passages, especially where descriptions emphasize the size or force of the hailstones. Unlike other Greek meteorological terms, χάλαζα is specifically restricted to ice pellets/hail and not other forms of precipitation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from χαλάω; hail:--hail.
Root Family
χάλαζα (chalaza) — hail, icy precipitation, descending pellets
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5464-01 |
χάλαζα | chalaza | N NOM F SG |
hail | hail | hail | 3 |
G5464-02 |
χαλάζης | chalazes | N GEN F SG |
hail | of hail | hail | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5464-01 |
Revelation 8:7 | χάλαζα | chalaza | N NOM F SG |
hail | hail | hail |
G5464-01 |
Revelation 11:19 | χάλαζα | chalaza | N NOM F SG |
hail | hail | hail |
G5464-01 |
Revelation 16:21 | χάλαζα | chalaza | N NOM F SG |
hail | hail | hail |
G5464-02 |
Revelation 16:21 | χαλάζης | chalazes | N GEN F SG |
hail | of hail | hail |