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חָלַץ

𐤇𐤋𐤑

châlats

H2502 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חלץ to draw off, to equip, to rescue

Definition

To draw off, to equip, to rescue. The verb חָלַץ generally denotes the action of drawing out or removing, especially in contexts of extracting from danger (rescue), stripping away (armor, clothing), or preparing/equipping for battle. In some settings, it means to arm or equip, particularly for military purposes. It can also carry the sense of readying oneself or being made strong for a particular task or danger.

Semantic Range

to remove, to strip off (such as armor or clothing), to draw out (from danger), to rescue, to deliver, to equip for battle, to prepare, to arm (for war), to ready oneself, to withdraw

Root / Etymology

Root ח־ל־ץ (חלץ), with the base sense of drawing out or removing. Derived primary meaning is 'to draw off, pull out,' which develops semantically into 'to equip with' (especially equipment/armor), 'to remove' (as in stripping), and 'to rescue' (by drawing out of peril). The nominal form חָלָץ means 'loin,' from the idea of that which protrudes or is ready for action, reflecting preparedness or strength.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חָלַץ occurs in several semantic environments: (1) removing or drawing out persons from danger (rescue/deliverance, e.g., Judges 6:14; Psalms 34:7); (2) stripping off or removing items, as in taking off armor (1 Kings 20:11); (3) equipping, arming, or readying for battle (Numbers 31:3, 1 Samuel 17:39), particularly by reference to 'men equipped for war.' In the late biblical and post-biblical periods, the sense of rescue and deliverance becomes more general. English translations often render חָלַץ as 'deliver,' 'rescue,' 'equip,' or 'arm,' but each usage should be read contextually. The use for 'making fat' or 'loosing' is rare and mostly idiomatic or poetic. The word contrasts with more common roots for 'deliver' (נצל, פלט), which can have broader or more legal connotations, whereas חָלַץ often carries a vivid, concrete sense of being pulled out or readied physically. The later English term 'armed' or phrases like 'armed men' reflect a specialized military usage that was present already in early Israelite society, especially concerning defense or action in peril.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen; arm (self), (go, ready) armed ([idiom] man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלץ (ḥ-l-ṣ) — draw off, draw out, remove, equip, rescue

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2488 חֲלִיצָה his battle-armor
H2503 חֶלֶץ Helez
H2504 חָלָץ loins
H4254 מַחֲלָצָה the changeable garments

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2502-08 חֲלוּצֵ֥י chalutsey HVqsmpc equipped equipped ones of 5
H2502-07 חָל֛וּץ chaluts HVqsmsa armed equipped one 4
H2502-09 חֲלוּצִ֖ים chalutsim HVqsmpa armed equipped ones 3
H2502-24 וְ/הֶ֣/חָל֔וּץ vehechaluts HC/Td/Vqsmsa and-the-armed and the equipped one 3
H2502-13 הֶֽ/חָלוּץ֙ hechaluts HTd/Vqsmsa the-armed the equipped one 3
H2502-29 יֵחָלְצ֣וּ/ן yechaletsun HVNi3mp/Sn they may be delivered they will be drawn out 2
H2502-27 יְחַלְּצֵ֖/נִי yechaletseni HVpi3ms/Sp1cs He delivered he will draw me out 2
H2502-23 וְ/חִלְּצוּ֙ vechiletsu HC/Vpq3cp and they shall remove and they equipped 1
H2502-04 חַלְּצָ֣/ה chaletsah HVpv2ms/Sh deliver Fully draw out! 1
H2502-22 וְ/חַלְּצֵ֑/נִי vechaletseni HC/Vpv2ms/Sp1cs and deliver me and draw me out 1

Occurrences in Scripture

44 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2502-23 Leviticus 14:40 וְ/חִלְּצוּ֙ vechiletsu HC/Vpq3cp and they shall remove and they equipped
H2502-11 Leviticus 14:43 חִלֵּ֣ץ chilets HVpp3ms he has taken away he equipped
H2502-12 Numbers 31:3 הֵחָלְצ֧וּ hechaletsu HVNv2mp Arm yourselves Be equipped
H2502-08 Numbers 31:5 חֲלוּצֵ֥י chalutsey HVqsmpc armed equipped ones of
H2502-14 Numbers 32:17 נֵחָלֵ֣ץ nechalets HVNi1cp will arm ourselves we will be equipped
H2502-17 Numbers 32:20 תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ techaletsu HVNi2mp you arm yourselves you will be equipped
H2502-07 Numbers 32:21 חָל֛וּץ chaluts HVqsmsa armed man equipped one
H2502-07 Numbers 32:27 חֲל֥וּץ chaluts HVqsmsc armed equipped one
H2502-07 Numbers 32:29 חָל֤וּץ chaluts HVqsmsa armed equipped one
H2502-09 Numbers 32:30 חֲלוּצִ֖ים chalutsim HVqsmpa armed equipped ones
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