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חָלִילָה

𐤇𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄

châlîylâh

H2486 particle

SILEX Entry

Root חָלַל to profane, pollute, defile

Definition

An interjection expressing strong rejection, abhorrence, or prohibition—'far be it,' 'let it not be,' 'may it not happen.' In biblical usage, it functions as an emphatic denial or repudiation of an action or idea considered unacceptable, improper, or profane, particularly in reference to moral, social, or divine standards.

Semantic Range

far be it, let it not be, may it not happen, God forbid (idiomatic), interjection of forceful rejection or denial, protestation against profane or unworthy action

Root / Etymology

From the root חָלַל (ḥ-l-l), meaning 'to profane, pollute, defile.' The form חָלִילָה is an adverbial or interjectional usage derived from the root, though the etymological connection is more to the sense of something being profaned or improper than a literal object. The word is morphologically related to the conveying of something being unthinkable or out of the question on grounds of impropriety.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָלִילָה is used as an emphatic interjection, primarily in narrative and dialogical contexts where a speaker protests the suggestion of an unworthy or immoral act. It typically marks a boundary of what is socially, ethically, or religiously unacceptable, notably when directed toward acts considered offensive to the deity, the social order, or to one's integrity. Its strongest association is with protestations that certain actions are inconceivable for an Israelite (e.g., Genesis 18:25, 44:7, 44:17), or with rejecting a course that would violate divine or moral norms (e.g., Joshua 22:29). Standard English translations employ 'God forbid,' 'far be it,' or 'let it not be,' but such renderings may obscure that the phrase is not invoking a direct divine prohibition but rather making a culturally resonant repudiation—sometimes involving reference to the deity, sometimes not. The word does not refer to a 'profaned thing' in the concrete sense, but invokes the category of what ought not be done because it would be scandalous or sacrilegious. The phrase persists into the post-exilic and rabbinic periods as a strong verbal taboo against improper or forbidden acts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or חָלִלָה; a directive from חָלַל; literal fora profaned thing; used (interj.) far be it!; be far, ([idiom] God) forbid.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלל (ḥ-l-l) — to profane, pollute, defile

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2426 חֵיל Begin!
H2455 חֹל the common
H2471 חַלָּה perforated bread-cake
H2474 חַלּוֹן in the pierced opening
H2479 חַלְחָלָה paralyzing trembling

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2486-01 חָלִ֨לָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning! 21

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2486-01 Genesis 18:25 חָלִ֨לָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 Genesis 18:25 חָלִ֣לָ/ה chalilah-2 HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 Genesis 44:7 חָלִ֨ילָ/ה֙ chalilah HTj/Sh far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 Genesis 44:17 חָלִ֣ילָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 Joshua 22:29 חָלִילָ/ה֩ chalilah HTj/Sd Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 Joshua 24:16 חָלִ֣ילָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 1 Samuel 2:30 חָלִ֣ילָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 1 Samuel 12:23 חָלִ֤ילָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh far be it from Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 1 Samuel 14:45 חָלִ֗ילָ/ה chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
H2486-01 1 Samuel 20:2 חָלִילָ/ה֮ chalilah HTj/Sh Far be it Far be such profaning!
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