← H2504 H2506 →

חָלַק

𐤇𐤋𐤒

châlaq

H2505 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חלק to be smooth, to divide, to allot, to share

Definition

To divide, distribute, or apportion something (especially land, possessions, or inheritance); to make a separation; in extended use, to share with, assign, or allot. In a less common and derived sense, to use smooth speech, flatter, or speak with duplicity (from the figurative sense of 'being smooth'). The word can thus refer both to practical acts of allocation and to insincere, smooth words.

Semantic Range

to divide, to apportion, to allocate, to share (something tangible or intangible); to separate or take away a portion; to receive a portion; to flatter, to speak or act with duplicity; to be smooth (of surface or speech)

Root / Etymology

From the root חלק, which fundamentally denotes 'to be smooth' (literally referring to a polished or slippery surface). This physical sense gives rise metaphorically to the idea of smooth or slippery behavior (flattery, duplicity) and, by extension, to the decisive act of dividing or allocating (as smooth stones were used for casting lots in apportioning divisions). The verb's primary lexical meaning is derived from the act of dividing or allocating, but also carries secondary connotations of smoothness or flattery.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָלַק occurs frequently in contexts relating to the division of land or inheritance among Israelite clans and families, e.g., the distribution of the land of Canaan among the tribes (Joshua, Numbers). The related noun חֵלֶק 'portion, share' is derived from the same root. In poetic and wisdom literature, the root is used metaphorically to describe flattering or duplicitous speech (e.g., Proverbs, Psalms), contrasting honest speech with language that is 'smooth' but deceptive. The notion of 'smoothness' is thus ambivalent— denoting both a literal surface property and, by metaphor, a character of speech or action that lacks integrity. English translations often render חָלַק as 'divide,' 'share,' or 'apportion,' but sometimes use 'flatter' in these figurative contexts. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the distinction between physical division and flattery becomes sharper, but in the Hebrew Bible both senses are present. The term does not denote a strict legal partitioning as might be implied by modern words like 'distribute,' but can carry communal, familial, or insincere-social overtones depending on context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate; deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-) part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חלק (ḥ-l-q) — smoothness, division, allotment, sharing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2506 חֵלֶק in allotted portion of
H2507 חֵלֶק allotted portion
H2508 חֲלָק smooth
H2509 חָלָק smooth
H2510 חָלָק Halak

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2505-36 יְחַלֵּ֥ק yechaleq HVpi3ms he will divide he will apportion out 8
H2505-05 חָלַ֜ק chalaq HVqp3ms given smooth 6
H2505-26 וַ/יֵּחָלֵ֨ק vayechaleq HC/VNw3ms and distributed and he was divided 4
H2505-21 תֵּחָלֵ֥ק techaleq HVNi3fs shall be divided she will be apportioned 3
H2505-37 יְחַלְּק֣וּ yechalequ HVpi3mp dividing they will apportion out 2
H2505-17 מַחֲלִ֥יק machaliq HVhrmsc he who smooths the allotting one 2
H2505-14 הֶחֱלִֽיקָה hecheliqah HVhp3fs she has made smooth she apportioned 2
H2505-07 חָלְק֖וּ chalequ HVqp3cp had divided they apportioned 2
H2505-27 וַ/יֶּֽחָלְקֵ֥/ם vayechaleqem HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp and divided them and he apportioned them 2
H2505-25 וַֽ/יַּחְלְק֑וּ/ם vayachelequm HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp and they divided them and they apportioned them 2

Occurrences in Scripture

65 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2505-26 Genesis 14:15 וַ/יֵּחָלֵ֨ק vayechaleq HC/VNw3ms he divided and he was divided
H2505-03 Genesis 49:7 אֲחַלְּקֵ֣/ם achaleqem HVpi1cs/Sp3mp I will divide them I will apportion them
H2505-36 Genesis 49:27 יְחַלֵּ֥ק yechaleq HVpi3ms he divides he will apportion out
H2505-01 Exodus 15:9 אֲחַלֵּ֣ק achaleq HVpi1cs I will divide I will apportion
H2505-21 Numbers 26:53 תֵּחָלֵ֥ק techaleq HVNi3fs shall be divided she will be apportioned
H2505-36 Numbers 26:55 יֵחָלֵ֖ק yechaleq HVNi3ms shall be divided he will apportion out
H2505-21 Numbers 26:56 תֵּחָלֵ֖ק techaleq HVNi3fs shall be divided she will be apportioned
H2505-05 Deuteronomy 4:19 חָלַ֜ק chalaq HVqp3ms has allotted smooth
H2505-05 Deuteronomy 29:25 חָלַ֖ק chalaq HVqp3ms he allotted smooth
H2505-06 Joshua 13:7 חַלֵּ֞ק chaleq HVpv2ms divide Apportion out!
← H2504 Hebrew Lexicon H2506 →