חָדֵל
𐤇𐤃𐤋
châdêl
H2310 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective denoting something or someone lacking, deficient, destitute, or depleted; in some contexts, describing a person or state as ceasing, lacking substance, or ineffectual. The term is used to characterize conditions of insufficiency, emptiness, weakness, or absence, both physically and figuratively.
Semantic Range
lacking, deficient, destitute, depleted, vacant, ceasing, ineffectual, insubstantial, frail, forbearing (in the sense of ceasing activity)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ח-ד-ל (חדל), meaning 'to cease, stop, desist, be lacking.' The adjective חָדֵל draws from the sense of 'ceasing' or 'coming to an end,' and applies it adjectivally to states or persons characterized by cessation or deficiency.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָדֵל appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Proverbs 27:16) and is always adjectival, describing a state of lacking or ceasing. In contexts like Proverbs, it characterizes insubstantiality, lack of effectiveness, or inability to retain. The word does not carry specifically negative or positive connotations, but indicates absence or fragility. While English translations sometimes render it as 'rejected' or 'forbearing,' these reflect interpretive choices not directly present in the lexeme. The word is rare and does not refer to a particular group or identity; it describes general states or qualities, not roles or social categories. It contrasts with adjectives like חָזָק (strong) and מָלֵא (full, abundant) and is related in sense to terms denoting lack, poverty, or weakness. No significant shift in meaning is evident between earlier and later biblical texts; its usage is consistently adjectival and descriptive of absence, cessation, or deficiency.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָדַל; vacant, i.e. ceasing or destitute; he that forbeareth, frail, rejected.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חדל (ḥ-d-l) — to cease, desist, lack, be absent
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2310-01 |
חָדֵ֥ל | chadel | HAamsa |
ceasing | a lacking one | 1 |
H2310-02 |
וַ/חֲדַ֣ל | vachadal | HC/Aamsc |
and rejected | and deficient-of | 1 |
H2310-03 |
וְ/הֶ/חָדֵ֣ל | vehechadel | HC/Td/Aamsa |
and the one desisting | and the deficient one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2310-02 |
Isaiah 53:3 | וַ/חֲדַ֣ל | vachadal | HC/Aamsc |
and rejected | and deficient-of |
H2310-03 |
Ezekiel 3:27 | וְ/הֶ/חָדֵ֣ל | vehechadel | HC/Td/Aamsa |
and the one desisting | and the deficient one |
H2310-01 |
Psalms 39:5 | חָדֵ֥ל | chadel | HAamsa |
ceasing | a lacking one |