חֵילָם
𐤇𐤉𐤋𐤌
Cheylam
H2431 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym referring to a locality, likely a fortified settlement, named 'Chelam' (Chêylâm), mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:16-17 as the site of a battle between Aramean and Israelite forces. The name is constructed from the root חַיִל, often denoting strength or military prowess, suggesting a place associated either with fortification or martial capability. The semantic range is limited to this geographic designation within the biblical text.
Semantic Range
place of strength, fortified settlement, locality of military confrontation, toponym for a specific Aramean city or region
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חַיִל (ḥ-y-l), whose core meanings are 'strength,' 'valor,' 'wealth,' and by extension 'army' or 'fortress.' The toponym חֵילָם is thus built upon the concept of strength or military presence, possibly indicating a fortified place or an area associated with military organization. The formation is a typical example of a place name derived from an abstract or descriptive root. The specific morphological structure suggests a toponymic formation, but the precise form and its significance are not fully transparent.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Chelam (Chêylâm) appears only in reference to a single biblical event—David's defeat of Aramean mercenaries—in the monarchic narrative (2 Samuel 10). Its identification and location remain debated; it is east of the land of Israel, possibly in northern Transjordan or Aram (Syria). The Septuagint renders the name with minor variations (Χαιλαμ), reflecting pronunciation close to the Masoretic Text. English translations sometimes obscure the geographical/fortified nuance by focusing on transliteration, but the original context suggests a militarily significant site. Some manuscripts have the spelling חֵילָם versus חֵלָאם (a simple metathesis); this does not alter the underlying etymological significance. The later English rendering 'Helam' is inherited from the KJV but does not represent an actual ancient people or ethnic group. There is no overlap in meaning with the personal or collective designations for Israelites, Judahites, or Arameans—this is solely a place name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or חֵלָאםxlit Chêlʼâm corrected to Chêlâʼm; from חַיִל; fortress; Chelam, a place East of Palestine; Helam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חיל (ḥ-y-l) — strength, valor, army, wealth
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1134 | בֶּן־חַיִל | strength-capacity |
| H2426 | חֵיל | his strength |
| H2428 | חַיִל | in strength |
| H2429 | חַיִל | in strength |
| H2430 | חֵילָה | to her rampart |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2431-02 |
חֵילָ֑ם | cheylam | HNp |
to Helam | Chelam stronghold-place | 1 |
H2431-01 |
חֵלָ֑אמָ/ה | chelamah | HNp/Sd |
to Helam | toward Strength-Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2431-02 |
2 Samuel 10:16 | חֵילָ֑ם | cheylam | HNp |
to Helam | Chelam stronghold-place |
H2431-01 |
2 Samuel 10:17 | חֵלָ֑אמָ/ה | chelamah | HNp/Sd |
to Helam | toward Strength-Place |