חֵ֣לֶב
𐤇𐤋𐤁
chelev
best
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.
Numbers 18:12 · Word #2
Lexicon H2459
| Lemma | חֶלֶב |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤇𐤋𐤁 |
| Transliteration | cheleb |
| Strong's | H2459 |
| In-context | best |
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 H2459-05
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 |
H2459-01 |
bechelevey | with the fats of |
H2461-02 |
chalav | rich milk |
H2461-03 |
chalavekhe | your milk |
H2461-04 |
chalev | rich milk of |
H2459-02 |
chelebah | the choicest fat of her |
H2459-03 |
chelebehen | their fat-richness |
H2459-04 |
chelebo | his fat-rich portion |
|
chelebon | Fat-Rich (Place) |
H2459-06 |
chelevey | rich fats of |
H2459-07 |
hachalavim | the fat-portions |
H2459-08 |
hachelev | the fat-rich portion |
H2461-05 |
hechalav | the rich milk |
H2461-06 |
mechalav | from milk |
H2459-09 |
mechelev | from fat-richness |
H2461-07 |
vachalev | and milk-of |
H2461-08 |
vechalav | and milk |
H2459-10 |
vechelev | and fat-of |
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 |