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חֶלְאָה

𐤇𐤋𐤀𐤄

chelʼâh

H2457 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלא to be sick, to be diseased, to become impure

Definition

Physical disease, illness, or sickness affecting a person; by extension, a figurative term for corrosion, rust, or filth on inanimate objects, especially metal. The primary meaning centers on physical affliction, but the term is used metaphorically to describe corrupting or degrading substances or conditions (such as rust or scum) on objects.

Semantic Range

disease, sickness, illness, rust, scum, impurity, filth

Root / Etymology

חֶלְאָה derives from the root חלא, which means 'to be or become sick, to be diseased.' The form חֶלְאָה is a feminine noun denoting the state or condition of illness or disease. The root also lends itself metaphorically in some contexts to describe impurity or a degrading substance, such as rust or scum, on material things, particularly metals.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, חֶלְאָה most commonly denotes physical disease or sickness, with a particular emphasis in some passages on chronic or serious illness. In later or metaphorical uses, especially in poetical and prophetic contexts (e.g., Ezekiel), the word extends to describe rust or scum contaminating metal vessels—symbolizing corruption or moral impurity within the nation or its leaders. This figurative use highlights the texture and destructive quality of 'disease' when applied to physical or social contexts. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for illness (e.g., חֹלִי), which can have a broader or less figurative sense. In English translations, chelʼâh is sometimes inadequately rendered as 'disease,' missing the metaphorical application to rust or scum, which in the biblical context signals impurity or defilement, not merely physical illness. The semantic shift from biological illness to metaphorical corruption seems limited mainly to post-monarchic, exilic, and post-exilic prophetic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָלָא; properly, disease; hence, rust; scum.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלא (ḥ-l-ʾ) — sickness, disease, impurity, corruption

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2456 חָלָא and he became sick
H2458 חֶלְאָה Chelah
H8463 תַּחֲלוּא in bodily diseases

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2457-01 חֶלְאָתָ֣/ה cheleatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs rust of her her sickness 4
H2457-02 וְ/חֶ֨לְאָתָ֔/הּ vecheleatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and-scum-its and her sickness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2457-01 Ezekiel 24:6 חֶלְאָתָ֣/ה cheleatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs scum-its her sickness
H2457-02 Ezekiel 24:6 וְ/חֶ֨לְאָתָ֔/הּ vecheleatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and-scum-its and her sickness
H2457-01 Ezekiel 24:11 חֶלְאָתָֽ/הּ cheleatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs its-scum her sickness
H2457-01 Ezekiel 24:12 חֶלְאָתָ֔/הּ cheleatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs rust of her her sickness
H2457-01 Ezekiel 24:12 חֶלְאָתָֽ/הּ cheleatah-2 HNcfsc/Sp3fs rust of her her sickness
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