חָלִיל
𐤇𐤋𐤉𐤋
châlîyl
H2485 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wind instrument, generally crafted from wood or reed and played by blowing across or into openings, typically identified in context as a 'flute' or 'pipe.' The term designates a musical instrument known for producing a clear, piercing, or sweet tone in celebratory or mournful settings. It is primarily referenced as a melodic instrument used in both public festivities and private or communal rituals.
Semantic Range
flute, pipe, wind instrument, perforated musical pipe, instrument for ceremonies (celebration or mourning), general melodic wind instrument
Root / Etymology
From the root חָלַל (ḥ-l-l), which fundamentally means 'to pierce, perforate, bore.' The noun form חָלִיל (châlîyl) derives from this root, highlighting the instrument’s construction: a hollow body with holes. The root meaning ('to pierce') reflects the flutes’ perforated structure rather than their use or sound.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָלִיל appears in contexts of both joy and lament, such as public celebrations (1 Sam 10:5) and mourning rites (Jer 48:36). Its association is with both secular and possibly cultic music. Unlike the lyre (כִּנּוֹר), which is a stringed instrument, the חָלִיל is wind-based and relates more to pipes or flutes known from broader ancient Near Eastern musical practice. Later English translations often render it as 'flute'; however, the specific construction (number of holes, materials, manner of playing) may vary by period and region. The instrument is distinct from other ancient wind instruments like the shofar (ram’s horn) or trumpet, which served as signals rather than melodic music-makers. In post-biblical periods, similar instruments continue to appear in Jewish and wider Levantine musical traditions. The word is not associated with any particular ethnic or religious identity but is part of broader Near Eastern and ancient Israelite musical vocabulary.
Translation Consistency
'Flute' is the most natural, specific, and commonly understood English word for חָלִיל. It matches the primary semantic range (wind/perforated pipe used for melody in celebration or mourning), appears in the source renderings, and is clearer for modern readers than the more general or archaic 'pipe' or 'wind instrument.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָלַל; a flute (as perforated); pipe.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
חָלַל (châlîyl) — to pierce, to perforate, to bore
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2486 | חָלִילָה | Far be such profaning! |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2485-03 |
כַּ/חֲלִלִ֣ים | kachalilim | HR/Ncmpa |
like flutes | perforated flutes | like flutes | 2 |
H2485-04 |
וְ/חָלִ֣יל | vechalil | HC/Ncmsa |
and flute | and perforated flute | and perforated flute | 2 |
H2485-01 |
בַּ/חֲלִלִ֔ים | bachalilim | HR/Ncmpa |
with-flutes | with perforated flutes | with flutes | 1 |
H2485-02 |
בֶּֽ/חָלִ֔יל | bechalil | HRd/Ncmsa |
with a flute | with a perforated flute | with a flute | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2485-04 |
1 Samuel 10:5 | וְ/חָלִ֣יל | vechalil | HC/Ncmsa |
and flute | and perforated flute | and perforated flute |
H2485-01 |
1 Kings 1:40 | בַּ/חֲלִלִ֔ים | bachalilim | HR/Ncmpa |
with-flutes | with perforated flutes | with flutes |
H2485-04 |
Isaiah 5:12 | וְ/חָלִ֛יל | vechalil | HC/Ncmsa |
and flute | and perforated flute | and perforated flute |
H2485-02 |
Isaiah 30:29 | בֶּֽ/חָלִ֔יל | bechalil | HRd/Ncmsa |
with a flute | with a perforated flute | with a flute |
H2485-03 |
Jeremiah 48:36 | כַּ/חֲלִלִ֣ים | kachalilim | HR/Ncmpa |
like flutes | perforated flutes | like flutes |
H2485-03 |
Jeremiah 48:36 | כַּ/חֲלִילִ֖ים | kachalilim-2 | HR/Ncmpa |
like flutes | perforated flutes | like flutes |