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הָלַם

𐤄𐤋𐤌

hâlam

H1986 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To strike, beat, or hammer; primarily used to denote striking with force, especially with the intent to break, crush, or subdue. The verb often conveys the action of forcefully striking or bringing something to a state of collapse or defeat. While typically referring to physical objects being struck (as with a hammer), it can also encompass the act of subduing people or forces by means of striking or destruction.

Semantic Range

strike (with force), beat down, hammer, crush, break down, overcome, smite, subdue

Root / Etymology

From the root הלם (h-l-m), the core meaning relates to striking or impacting with force. The form הָלַם is a verb in the Qal stem, denoting the active process of striking or beating. There are no widely attested related nouns or derivatives in Biblical Hebrew, though Modern Hebrew uses the root more broadly for 'shock' or 'impact.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

הָלַם appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with a primary focus on physical actions related to striking or battering, often in military or destructive contexts. In some cases, the verb is used metaphorically to indicate overcoming or subduing an enemy or opponent by force. Unlike more general terms for 'strike' (such as נכה, naka'), הָלַם is more strongly associated with forceful or repeated blows, sometimes by means of a tool (hammer). In post-biblical Hebrew and Modern Hebrew, the root takes on broader meanings related to shock or sudden impact, but this semantic expansion is not clearly attested in the biblical corpus. English translations often render the verb as 'beat,' 'strike,' or 'smite,' but the sense of forcefulness and intent to break or collapse is sometimes understated in translation. There is no clear indication that the verb was ever used of cultic or ritual hammering; the focus remains primarily military or destructive.

Translation Consistency

primary "strike" 5 occurrences

“Strike” is the most natural, general English verb that covers the primary semantic range — hitting, beating, hammering, crushing, or smiting — and fits both physical and metaphorical uses (e.g., striking down or subduing). It is widely used and simple to inflect consistently across all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"hammered" (1x) "hither and thither" (1x) "struck-down ones" (1x) "smash" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to strike down; by implication, to hammer, stamp, conquer, disband; beat (down), break (down), overcome, smite (with the hammer).

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

הלם (Helem) — to strike, to beat, to hammer

Root הלם to strike, to beat, to hammer
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1987 הֶלֶם Smiter
H1988 הֲלֹם to this place
H1989 הַלְמוּת to a striking-hammer-of
H3095 יַהֲלֹם and strike-hardened gem
H4112 מַהֲלֻמָּה for strike-wounds

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1986-02 הָלְמ֣וּ halemu HVqp3cp have struck down they struck down they struck down 2
H1986-01 הֲלָמ֗וּ/נִי halamuni HVqp3cp/Sp1cs They have beaten me They struck me they struck me 1
H1986-03 הֲל֥וּמֵי halumey HVqsmpc overcome struck-down ones struck-down ones 1
H1986-04 ה֣וֹלֶם holem HVqrmsc him who strikes striking one of he who strikes 1
H1986-05 וַ/הֲלֹֽם vahalom HC/D hither and thither and strike! hither and thither 1
H1986-06 וְ/הָלְמָ֤ה vehalemah HC/Vqp3fs and she hammered and she struck down and she hammered 1
H1986-07 יַהֲלֹמֽוּ/ן yahalomun HVqi3mp/Sn they smash them they strike down they smash them 1
H1986-08 יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽ/נִי yehelemeni HVqi3ms/Sp1cs strike me he will strike me he will strike me 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1986-02 Judges 5:22 הָלְמ֖וּ halemu HVqp3cp were beaten they struck down they struck down
H1986-06 Judges 5:26 וְ/הָלְמָ֤ה vehalemah HC/Vqp3fs and she hammered and she struck down and she hammered
H1986-05 1 Samuel 14:16 וַ/הֲלֹֽם vahalom HC/D hither and thither and strike! hither and thither
H1986-02 Isaiah 16:8 הָלְמ֣וּ halemu HVqp3cp have struck down they struck down they struck down
H1986-03 Isaiah 28:1 הֲל֥וּמֵי halumey HVqsmpc overcome struck-down ones struck-down ones
H1986-04 Isaiah 41:7 ה֣וֹלֶם holem HVqrmsc him who strikes striking one of he who strikes
H1986-07 Psalms 74:6 יַהֲלֹמֽוּ/ן yahalomun HVqi3mp/Sn they smash them they strike down they smash them
H1986-08 Psalms 141:5 יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽ/נִי yehelemeni HVqi3ms/Sp1cs strike me he will strike me he will strike me
H1986-01 Proverbs 23:35 הֲלָמ֗וּ/נִי halamuni HVqp3cp/Sp1cs They have beaten me They struck me they struck me
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