חֲכִילָה
𐤇𐤊𐤉𐤋𐤄
Chakhilah
H2444 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific geographic feature: the hill or region named Chăkîylâh, associated with a dark or dusky appearance, possibly due to vegetation or coloration of the landscape. Primarily, the term denotes a named location relevant in historical narratives, particularly as a place where David encamped and encountered Saul.
Semantic Range
proper noun: name of a hill or region known as Chăkîylâh; geographical location distinguished by a dark or shaded aspect; associated with wilderness narratives
Root / Etymology
Root: חכל (ḥ-k-l), meaning 'to be dark' or 'to become dark-colored.' The form חֲכִילָה (Chăkîylâh) derives from this root, likely signifying 'the dark (place)' or 'the dusky hill.' The word functions as a proper noun, designating a specific locality rather than retaining the adjectival meaning of the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲכִילָה appears exclusively as a toponym in the Hebrew Bible, especially in accounts relating to David's flight from Saul (e.g., 1 Samuel 23:19, 1 Samuel 26:1). The name likely reflects a characteristic of the landscape, potentially its vegetation, shaded aspect, or the coloration of its rocks or soil. The identification of the precise historical location is uncertain, but it is associated with the wilderness of Ziph, southeast of Hebron. Unlike related terms such as חַכְלִיל (ḥakhlil, 'dark'), which is an adjective, חֲכִילָה operates solely as a nominative label for a place. Later translations sometimes Anglicize the place as 'Hachilah.' It is important, especially in historical-critical contexts, to avoid overlaying later concepts of 'Palestine' or noting this as a 'hill in Palestine'; rather, it should be understood as a specific hill or region in the southern hill country of ancient Israelite territory during the monarchic period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as חַכְלִיל; dark; Chakilah, a hill in Palestine; Hachilah.
Bantu Hebrew
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חכל (ḥ-k-l) — to be dark, to become dusky
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2444-01 |
הַֽ/חֲכִילָ֔ה | hachakhilah | HTd/Np |
Hachilah | the Dusky Hill | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2444-01 |
1 Samuel 23:19 | הַֽ/חֲכִילָ֔ה | hachakhilah | HTd/Np |
Hachilah | the Dusky Hill |
H2444-01 |
1 Samuel 26:1 | הַ/חֲכִילָ֔ה | hachakhilah | HTd/Np |
Hachilah | the Dusky Hill |
H2444-01 |
1 Samuel 26:3 | הַ/חֲכִילָ֗ה | hachakhilah | HTd/Np |
Hachilah | the Dusky Hill |