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חֶלֶב

𐤇𐤋𐤁

cheleb

H2459 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלב to be fat, to become fat, to be rich

Definition

Fat, specifically the fat portions of animals, especially those offered in sacrificial contexts; by extension, the best or most valuable part of something, as in produce, crops, or possessions. The term typically denotes the choice or richest portions both literally (in animal fat) and metaphorically (best portions in general).

Semantic Range

fat of animals (especially sacrificial portions), suet, rich or choice part of land or produce, best portion, abundance, richness (figurative)

Root / Etymology

From the root חלב (ḥ-l-b), meaning 'to be fat' or 'to produce fat,' though the verb form is unattested in the Hebrew Bible. The noun חֶלֶב denotes 'fat,' primarily in reference to animal fat, and figuratively, the best part of something. Some cognates in related Semitic languages reflect similar meanings of fatness or richness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Pentateuch, חֶלֶב refers explicitly to the suet or specific fat portions of sacrificial animals (see Leviticus 3:3-17, 7:23-25), which were forbidden for consumption and reserved for burning on the altar, signifying separation of the most valuable part for the deity. Its metaphorical use can denote the choicest or most desirable aspect, as in 'the fat of the land' (Genesis 45:18) or 'the fat of wheat' (Deuteronomy 32:14). The word is distinct from שָׁמֶן (shemen), which means 'oil,' and from מִשְׁמָן (mishman), which can also refer to fertility or richness but is broader in scope. Post-exilic texts continue metaphorically to use חֶלֶב for the 'best' or 'choicest' (e.g., Psalm 81:17). English translations sometimes render the figurative sense as 'best' or 'richest,' but may not always capture its ritual significance in sacrificial law. The later English idiom 'the fat of the land' preserves the metaphorical sense, though the ritual aspect is often lost in translation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלב (ḥ-l-b) — to be fat, to become fat, to be rich

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2460 חֵלֶב fat of
H2461 חָלָב in milk
H2462 חֶלְבָּה Chelbah
H2463 חֶלְבּוֹן Richness-town Chelbon
H2464 חֶלְבְּנָה rich galbanum resin

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2459-11 הַ/חֵלֶב֮ hachelev HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion 31
H2459-08 חֵ֥לֶב chelev HNcmsc fat fat of 20
H2459-07 חֶלְבּ/וֹ֙ chelebo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its fat his fat 7
H2459-10 הַ֣/חֲלָבִ֔ים hachalavim HTd/Ncmpa the fats the fat portions 7
H2459-14 מֵ/חֵ֥לֶב mechelev HR/Ncmsc with-fat from fat 7
H2459-16 וְ/חֵ֤לֶב vechelev HC/Ncmsc and the fat and fat of 4
H2459-09 חֶלְבֵ֥י chelevey HNcmpc fat portions of fat-portions of 4
H2459-06 חֶלְבְּ/הֶ֑ן chelebehen HNcmsc/Sp3fp their fat their fat-portion 2
H2459-03 חֶלְבָּ֣/הּ chelebah HNcmsc/Sp3fs fat of it its fat 2
H2459-12 כַּ/חֵ֣לֶב kachelev HRd/Ncmsa like fat like rich fat 1

Occurrences in Scripture

92 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2459-15 Genesis 4:4 וּ/מֵֽ/חֶלְבֵ/הֶ֑ן umechelevehen HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3fp and of their fat portions and from their fat-portions
H2459-08 Genesis 45:18 חֵ֥לֶב chelev HNcmsc fat fat of
H2459-08 Exodus 23:18 חֵֽלֶב chelev HNcmsc fat fat of
H2459-11 Exodus 29:13 הַ/חֵלֶב֮ hachelev HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Exodus 29:13 הַ/חֵ֖לֶב hachelev-2 HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Exodus 29:22 הַ/חֵ֨לֶב hachelev HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Exodus 29:22 הַ/חֵ֣לֶב hachelev-2 HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Exodus 29:22 הַ/חֵ֨לֶב֙ hachelev-3 HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Leviticus 3:3 הַ/חֵ֨לֶב֙ hachelev HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
H2459-11 Leviticus 3:3 הַ/חֵ֔לֶב hachelev-2 HTd/Ncmsa the fat the fat-portion
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