חֲלִי
𐤇𐤋𐤉
chălîy
H2481 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Small decorative item or piece of jewelry crafted from polished or bright materials, worn as an adornment; refers specifically to personal ornaments rather than general treasure or valuables. The term is used of amulets, necklaces, pendants, and similar jewelry intended to enhance personal appearance.
Semantic Range
ornament, piece of jewelry, trinket, personal adornment, polished object, decorative amulet
Root / Etymology
Root חלה (ḥ-l-h), meaning 'to be sick, weak, languish,' with a secondary sense developing around 'to soften' or 'to make delicate.' חֲלִי (chălîy) likely derives as an abstract or substantive form indicating something delicate or cherished, hence an ornamental item. This construction from a root meaning 'to be soft' or 'delicate' very likely gave rise to the sense of 'finely crafted', 'polished', or 'beautiful ornament.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲלִי appears in biblical contexts describing the ornate jewelry worn by Israelites, especially in poetic or negative contexts (e.g. Isaiah 30:22; Hosea 2:13) where such ornaments may symbolize vanity, prosperity, or apostasy. It is distinct from other terms for jewelry (such as נֶזֶם, 'ring/earring,' or עֲדִי, 'adornment') in that it appears to highlight the crafted, polished quality of the item rather than its intrinsic value or specific purpose. The usage is relatively rare, and the word is never used for the priestly or cultic ornaments, nor for metal currency; it is restricted to personal decorative objects, especially those that are small or intricately made. In later Hebrew, similar roots persist with the sense of something dainty, weak, or affective, which reinforces the link to delicacy or beauty. English translations like 'jewel' or 'ornament' commonly capture the core idea, but may miss nuances of delicacy and craftedness implied by the Hebrew. The term's use in prophetic critique often carries connotations related to idolatry or misplaced pride, but does not inherently connote religious function.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָלָה; a trinket (as polished); jewel, ornament.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חלה (ḥ-l-h) — to be weak, to be sick, to become soft, to be delicate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2342 | חוּל | sickness |
| H2470 | חָלָה | in their becoming weak |
| H2482 | חֲלִי | and Hali |
| H2483 | חֳלִי | in sicknesses |
| H2484 | חֶלְיָה | and her ornament |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2481-01 |
חֲלָאִ֔ים | chalaim | HNcmpa |
jewels | delicate ornaments | 1 |
H2481-02 |
וַ/חֲלִי | vachali | HC/Ncmsc |
and an ornament | and delicate ornament | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2481-02 |
Proverbs 25:12 | וַ/חֲלִי | vachali | HC/Ncmsc |
and an ornament | and delicate ornament |
H2481-01 |
Song of Songs 7:2 | חֲלָאִ֔ים | chalaim | HNcmpa |
jewels | delicate ornaments |