חַלְחָלָה
𐤇𐤋𐤇𐤋𐤄
chalchâlâh
H2479 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A physical or emotional trembling, shaking, or writhing—especially as a bodily reaction to intense fear, distress, or pain; by extension, a state of profound terror or anguish. The term often connotes the visceral, uncontrollable reaction of the body to extreme emotional or physical stimuli.
Semantic Range
trembling, quaking, physical writhing (as in childbirth), terror, anguish, overwhelming fear, paralyzing pain, horror
Root / Etymology
From the root חלל, with reduplication for intensity; the verbal root חלל carries the sense of 'to be weak, to grow pale, to become defiled or profaned' depending on stem and context. The formation חַלְחָלָה (with reduplication) intensifies the sense of weakness and trembling, suggesting 'overwhelming trembling' or 'paralyzing terror.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
חַלְחָלָה is used in poetic and prophetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah, Ezekiel, Nahum) to describe both literal physical trembling and metaphorical states of terror. It is sometimes linked with imagery of childbirth ('writhing'), but its semantic range is broader, often employed to convey the overwhelming loss of control experienced during catastrophic or divine events—earthquakes, sieges, or theophanies (manifestations of God). English translations vary, rendering it as 'pain', 'trembling', 'anguish', 'horror', or 'convulsing', but no single English term captures the psychosomatic depth of the Hebrew. The term is found primarily in prophetic literature, usually describing defeat, national catastrophe, or divine judgment. Unlike other terms such as רַעַד (trembling, quaking) or יָגוֹן (sorrow, grief), חַלְחָלָה emphasizes the involuntary, physicalizing aspect of terror or pain.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine from the same as חַלְחוּל; writhing (in childbirth); by implication, terror; (great, much) pain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חלל (ḥ-l-l) — to weaken, to profane, to defile; to become weak or pierced
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2426 | חֵיל | Begin! |
| H2455 | חֹל | the common |
| H2471 | חַלָּה | perforated bread-cake |
| H2474 | חַלּוֹן | in the pierced opening |
| H2485 | חָלִיל | with perforated flutes |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2479-01 |
חַלְחָלָ֔ה | chalechalah | HNcfsa |
anguish | paralyzing trembling | 3 |
H2479-02 |
וְ/חַלְחָלָה֙ | vechalechalah | HC/Ncfsa |
and trembling | overwhelming trembling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2479-01 |
Isaiah 21:3 | חַלְחָלָ֔ה | chalechalah | HNcfsa |
trembling | paralyzing trembling |
H2479-01 |
Ezekiel 30:4 | חַלְחָלָה֙ | chalechalah | HNcfsa |
anguish | paralyzing trembling |
H2479-01 |
Ezekiel 30:9 | חַלְחָלָ֤ה | chalechalah | HNcfsa |
anguish | paralyzing trembling |
H2479-02 |
Nahum 2:11 | וְ/חַלְחָלָה֙ | vechalechalah | HC/Ncfsa |
and trembling | overwhelming trembling |