חֵ֤לֶב
𐤇𐤋𐤁
chelev
fat
or חֵלֶב; from an unused root meaning to be fat; fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part; [idiom] best, fat(-ness), [idiom] finest, grease, marrow.
Deuteronomy 32:38 · Word #2
Lexicon H2459
| Lemma | חֶלֶב |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤇𐤋𐤁 |
| Transliteration | cheleb |
| Strong's | H2459 |
| In-context | fat |
Morphology HNcmsc
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | c — Construct — The noun is bound to the following word |
SIBI-P1 H2459-10
fat-portion
| Root | חלב (ḥ-l-b) |
| Core Meanings | fatness, richness, abundance, choicest part |
| Semantic Range | Literal animal fat (especially sacrificial fat), marrow, richness of food, the best or choicest portion of land or produce, figurative abundance or prosperity. |
| Conceptual Significance | In the Torah, the "fat-portion" belongs to יהוה in sacrificial law, symbolizing the richest and most prized part reserved for Him. Figuratively, it represents abundance, blessing, and the best that the land or covenant life can offer. |
| Morphological Notes | Common masculine singular noun (HNcmsa/HNcmsc), appearing in both absolute and construct states; no pronominal suffix in these forms. |
| Rendering Rationale | "Fat-portion" preserves the concrete image of animal fat while also conveying the extended sense of the richest or choicest part. The form is a masculine singular noun (absolute or construct), so the singular English rendering reflects the singular Hebrew form without abstraction into a plural or collective. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root חלב (fatness, richness, abundance, choicest part)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H303-01 |
achelav | Fertile-Place |
H2461-01 |
bachalev | in the milk-of |
H2461-02 |
bechalav | in rich milk |
Word Usage (92 occurrences of H2459)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 4:4 | וּ/מֵֽ/חֶלְבֵ/הֶ֑ן | umechelevehen | and of their fat portions |
| Genesis 45:18 | חֵ֥לֶב | chelev | fat |
| Exodus 23:18 | חֵֽלֶב | chelev | fat |