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חֲלָק

𐤇𐤋𐤒

chălâq

H2508 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלק to divide, apportion, distribute

Definition

Portion, share, or lot assigned or allotted to someone. In the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in Daniel and Ezra, חֲלָק refers to a division or share given to an individual, often in the context of distribution (of food, land, or responsibility). The term emphasizes what is apportioned or assigned by authority or by lot, rather than what is taken or seized.

Semantic Range

portion, share, lot, assigned part, quota, allotment; segment (of something larger), distribution

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָלַק (ḥālaq), which means 'to divide, apportion, distribute'. The Aramaic form חֲלָק reflects the same basic semantic field as the Hebrew root, with specific development as a nominal form meaning 'portion' or 'share'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲלָק occurs in the Aramaic portions of the Tanakh, particularly in the book of Daniel and later writings, carrying the sense of an assigned or allotted part. Its usage reflects administrative, social, or ritual distributions rather than random or self-directed division. The concept overlaps with Hebrew חֵלֶק (ḥēleq), also meaning 'portion' or 'share,' but חֲלָק is specific to the Aramaic sections and reflects the patterns of official allocation seen in post-exilic Persian-period administration. English translations often use 'portion' or 'part,' which capture the basic meaning but may not communicate the official or communal context of the term's usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to חָלַק; a part; portion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2505 חָלַק I will apportion
H2506 חֵלֶק in allotted portion of
H2507 חֵלֶק allotted portion
H2509 חָלָק smooth
H2510 חָלָק Halak

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2508-02 חֲלָקֵ֖/הּ chalaqeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms his-portion his allotted portion 2
H2508-01 חֲלָק֙ chalaq ANcmsa portion smooth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2508-02 Daniel 4:12 חֲלָקֵ֖/הּ chalaqeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms its portion his allotted portion
H2508-02 Daniel 4:20 חֲלָקֵ֔/הּ chalaqeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms his-portion his allotted portion
H2508-01 Ezra 4:16 חֲלָק֙ chalaq ANcmsa portion smooth
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