חָלָל (H2491) — Hebrew Lexicon

חָלָל

𐤇𐤋𐤋

châlâl

H2491 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root חלל to pierce, to wound, to profane, to pollute

Definition

In its basic usage, חָלָל (châlâl) denotes a person who has been killed, especially one who has died by violent means, such as being pierced or wounded in battle. It also appears in contexts referring more broadly to slain individuals, casualties, or corpses, typically those killed by force or weapons. Less commonly, the term can be used in figurative or metaphorical senses to indicate defilement or profanation, especially by contact with the dead or the unclean.

Semantic Range

slain person, someone killed by violence, corpse (esp. of the violently killed), battlefield casualty, one who is wounded mortally, profaned (by contact with death), defiled; rare: metaphorically impure or desecrated

Root / Etymology

חָלָל derives from the root חלל, which at its most basic level carries meanings related to 'to pierce,' 'to bore through,' or 'to profane.' The noun form חָלָל thus predominantly means 'one who has been pierced' or 'slain,' especially in battle. The root can also extend to meanings of defilement or loss of sanctity, which inform some of the metaphorical senses of the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hexateuch and later historical books, חָלָל most frequently designates individuals killed in warfare or violent conflict, highlighting the distinction between natural and violent deaths. The term is often found in narratives of battles, lists of casualties, or ritual concerns about corpse contamination. In Levitical and priestly contexts, contact with a חָלָל renders individuals ritually impure, demonstrating the overlap between physical death and cultic defilement. Unlike the term מֵת (met, 'dead person'), which can refer to any deceased individual, חָלָל generally implies violent or premature death, often on the battlefield. English translations sometimes render it as 'slain,' 'wounded,' or 'deadly wounded,' but these may obscure the term's strong association with being pierced or killed through violence. In rarer metaphorical use, חָלָל can be linked to desecration or loss of holiness, particularly in texts meditating on the effects of violence or ritual impurity. In later biblical periods, the association with the battlefield casualty remains central, though priestly texts tend to focus more on ritual consequences than military ones. The English term 'slain' captures only part of the word's semantic range.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָלַל; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted; kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלל (ḥ-l-l) — to pierce, to wound, to profane, to pollute

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
H2485	חָלִיל	with perforated flutes
H2486	חָלִילָה	Far be such profaning!
H2490	חָלַל	I will desecrate
H4247	מְחִלָּה	and in hollowed-out caves of
H5155	נְחִילָה	the flutes
H8462	תְּחִלָּה	in the beginning

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H2491-09`	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones	25
`H2491-10`	חַֽלְלֵ֤י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of	22
`H2491-03`	חָלָ֗ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one	20
`H2491-13`	הַ֣/חֲלָלִ֔ים	hachalalim	`HTd/Aampa`	the slain	the pierced ones	4
`H2491-12`	חַלְלֵי/כֶ֔ם	chaleleykhem	`HAampc/Sp2mp`	your slain	your pierced ones	3
`H2491-11`	חַלְלֵי/הֶ֗ם	chaleleyhem	`HAampc/Sp3mp`	their-slain	their pierced ones	3
`H2491-14`	הֶ/חָלָֽל	hechalal	`HTd/Aamsa`	the slain	the pierced one	3
`H2491-18`	וַ/חֲלָלָה֙	vachalalah	`HC/Aafsa`	or defiled	pierced one	2
`H2491-02`	בֶּֽ/חָלָ֗ל	bechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	slain	in a slain one	1
`H2491-15`	כֶּֽ/חָלָל֙	kechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	like the slain	pierced one	1
`H2491-19`	בֶֽ/חָלָ֔ל	vechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	the slain	pierced one	1
`H2491-20`	וְ/חַלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם	vechaleleyhem	`HC/Aampc/Sp3mp`	and their slain	and their pierced-ones	1
`H2491-04`	חֲלָלַ֨יִ/ךְ֙	chalalayikhe	`HAampc/Sp2fs`	your slain	your slain ones	1
`H2491-17`	מֵֽ/חַלְלֵ֖י	mechaleley	`HR/Aampc`	than slain	slain ones of	1
`H2491-16`	כֶ/חָלָ֣ל	khechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	like-a-wounded-one	pierced one	1
`H2491-01`	בַּֽ/חֲלַל	bachalal	`HR/Aamsc`	a slain person	pierced slain-one	1
`H2491-05`	חֲלָלָ֑י/ו	chalalayv	`HAampc/Sp3ms`	its-slain	his slain ones	1
`H2491-08`	חֲלָלֵֽי/נוּ	chalaleynu	`HAampc/Sp1cp`	our slain	our slain ones	1
`H2491-07`	חֲלָלֶ֣י/ךָ	chalaleykha	`HAampc/Sp2ms`	Your wounded	your slain ones	1
`H2491-06`	חֲלָלֶ֖י/הָ	chalaleyha	`HAampc/Sp3fs`	her slain	her slain ones	1

Occurrences in Scripture

94 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H2491-13`	Genesis 34:27	הַ֣/חֲלָלִ֔ים	hachalalim	`HTd/Aampa`	the slain	the pierced ones
`H2491-18`	Leviticus 21:7	וַ/חֲלָלָה֙	vachalalah	`HC/Aafsa`	or defiled	pierced one
`H2491-18`	Leviticus 21:14	וַ/חֲלָלָ֣ה	vachalalah	`HC/Aafsa`	or one profaned	pierced one
`H2491-01`	Numbers 19:16	בַּֽ/חֲלַל	bachalal	`HR/Aamsc`	a slain person	pierced slain-one
`H2491-19`	Numbers 19:18	בֶֽ/חָלָ֔ל	vechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	the slain	pierced one
`H2491-09`	Numbers 23:24	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	of the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-11`	Numbers 31:8	חַלְלֵי/הֶ֗ם	chaleleyhem	`HAampc/Sp3mp`	slain-of-them	their pierced ones
`H2491-02`	Numbers 31:19	בֶּֽ/חָלָ֗ל	bechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	slain	in a slain one
`H2491-03`	Deuteronomy 21:1	חָלָ֗ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-14`	Deuteronomy 21:2	הֶ/חָלָֽל	hechalal	`HTd/Aamsa`	the slain	the pierced one
`H2491-14`	Deuteronomy 21:3	הֶ/חָלָ֑ל	hechalal	`HTd/Aamsa`	the slain	the pierced one
`H2491-14`	Deuteronomy 21:6	הֶ/חָלָ֑ל	hechalal	`HTd/Aamsa`	the slain	the pierced one
`H2491-03`	Deuteronomy 32:42	חָלָל֙	chalal	`HAamsa`	of the slain	pierced one
`H2491-09`	Joshua 11:6	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-11`	Joshua 13:22	חַלְלֵי/הֶֽם	chaleleyhem	`HAampc/Sp3mp`	their-slain	their pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Judges 9:40	חֲלָלִ֥ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	wounded	pierced ones
`H2491-08`	Judges 16:24	חֲלָלֵֽי/נוּ	chalaleynu	`HAampc/Sp1cp`	our slain	our slain ones
`H2491-09`	Judges 20:31	חֲלָלִ֜ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	wounded	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Judges 20:39	חֲלָלִ֤ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	wounded	pierced ones
`H2491-10`	1 Samuel 17:52	חַֽלְלֵ֤י	chaleley	`HAampc`	the slain of	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	1 Samuel 31:1	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-13`	1 Samuel 31:8	הַ/חֲלָלִ֑ים	hachalalim	`HTd/Aampa`	the slain	the pierced ones
`H2491-03`	2 Samuel 1:19	חָלָ֑ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	is slain	pierced one
`H2491-09`	2 Samuel 1:22	חֲלָלִ֗ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	of the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-03`	2 Samuel 1:25	חָלָֽל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	2 Samuel 23:8	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	2 Samuel 23:18	חָלָ֑ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	(slain)	pierced one
`H2491-13`	1 Kings 11:15	הַ/חֲלָלִ֑ים	hachalalim	`HTd/Aampa`	the slain	the pierced ones
`H2491-04`	Isaiah 22:2	חֲלָלַ֨יִ/ךְ֙	chalalayikhe	`HAampc/Sp2fs`	your slain	your slain ones
`H2491-10`	Isaiah 22:2	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-20`	Isaiah 34:3	וְ/חַלְלֵי/הֶ֣ם	vechaleleyhem	`HC/Aampc/Sp3mp`	and their slain	and their pierced-ones
`H2491-10`	Isaiah 66:16	חַֽלְלֵ֥י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Jeremiah 8:23	חַֽלְלֵ֥י	chaleley	`HAampc`	the slain of	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Jeremiah 14:18	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Jeremiah 25:33	חַֽלְלֵ֤י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	Jeremiah 41:9	חֲלָלִֽים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the-slain	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Jeremiah 51:4	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-06`	Jeremiah 51:47	חֲלָלֶ֖י/הָ	chalaleyha	`HAampc/Sp3fs`	her slain	her slain ones
`H2491-10`	Jeremiah 51:49	חַֽלְלֵ֣י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain of	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Jeremiah 51:49	חַֽלְלֵ֥י	chaleley-2	`HAampc`	slain of	slain ones of
`H2491-03`	Jeremiah 51:52	חָלָֽל	chalal	`HAamsa`	the wounded	pierced one
`H2491-12`	Ezekiel 6:4	חַלְלֵי/כֶ֔ם	chaleleykhem	`HAampc/Sp2mp`	your slain	your pierced ones
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 6:7	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	the slain	pierced one
`H2491-11`	Ezekiel 6:13	חַלְלֵי/הֶ֗ם	chaleleyhem	`HAampc/Sp3mp`	their-slain	their pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 9:7	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-12`	Ezekiel 11:6	חַלְלֵי/כֶ֖ם	chaleleykhem	`HAampc/Sp2mp`	your slain	your pierced ones
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 11:6	חָלָֽל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-12`	Ezekiel 11:7	חַלְלֵי/כֶם֙	chaleleykhem	`HAampc/Sp2mp`	your slain	your pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 21:19	חֲלָלִ֔ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	of the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 21:19	חָלָ֣ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 21:30	חָלָ֣ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	profaned	pierced one
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 21:34	חַֽלְלֵ֣י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 26:15	חָלָ֜ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	the wounded	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 28:8	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 28:23	חָלָל֙	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 30:4	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	the slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 30:11	חָלָֽל	chalal	`HAamsa`	with the slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	Ezekiel 30:24	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 31:17	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	the slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 31:18	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	those slain by	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:20	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	those slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:21	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:22	חֲלָלִ֔ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:23	חֲלָלִים֙	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:24	חֲלָלִים֩	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain-ones	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:25	חֲ֠לָלִים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:25	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:25	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim-2	`HAampa`	of the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:28	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	those slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:29	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	those slain	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	Ezekiel 32:30	חֲלָלִ֗ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:30	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	those slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:31	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 32:32	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-05`	Ezekiel 35:8	חֲלָלָ֑י/ו	chalalayv	`HAampc/Sp3ms`	its-slain	his slain ones
`H2491-10`	Ezekiel 35:8	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-03`	Nahum 3:3	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	of slain	pierced one
`H2491-10`	Zephaniah 2:12	חַֽלְלֵ֥י	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-07`	Psalms 69:27	חֲלָלֶ֣י/ךָ	chalaleykha	`HAampc/Sp2ms`	Your wounded	your slain ones
`H2491-09`	Psalms 88:6	חֲלָלִ֨ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-16`	Psalms 89:11	כֶ/חָלָ֣ל	khechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	like-a-wounded-one	pierced one
`H2491-09`	Proverbs 7:26	חֲלָלִ֣ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	victims	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Job 24:12	חֲלָלִ֥ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	of the wounded	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	Job 39:30	חֲ֝לָלִ֗ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	the slain	pierced ones
`H2491-15`	Lamentations 2:12	כֶּֽ/חָלָל֙	kechalal	`HRd/Aamsa`	like the slain	pierced one
`H2491-10`	Lamentations 4:9	חַלְלֵי	chaleley	`HAampc`	slain	slain ones of
`H2491-17`	Lamentations 4:9	מֵֽ/חַלְלֵ֖י	mechaleley	`HR/Aampc`	than slain	slain ones of
`H2491-09`	Daniel 11:26	חֲלָלִ֥ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	1 Chronicles 5:22	חֲלָלִ֤ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-09`	1 Chronicles 10:1	חֲלָלִ֖ים	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones
`H2491-13`	1 Chronicles 10:8	הַֽ/חֲלָלִ֑ים	hachalalim	`HTd/Aampa`	slain	the pierced ones
`H2491-03`	1 Chronicles 11:11	חָלָ֖ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-03`	1 Chronicles 11:20	חָלָ֑ל	chalal	`HAamsa`	slain	pierced one
`H2491-09`	2 Chronicles 13:17	חֲלָלִים֙	chalalim	`HAampa`	slain	pierced ones

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