חָלַץ
𐤇𐤋𐤑
châlats
H2502 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To draw off, to equip, to rescue. The verb חָלַץ generally denotes the action of drawing out or removing, especially in contexts of extracting from danger (rescue), stripping away (armor, clothing), or preparing/equipping for battle. In some settings, it means to arm or equip, particularly for military purposes. It can also carry the sense of readying oneself or being made strong for a particular task or danger.
Semantic Range
to remove, to strip off (such as armor or clothing), to draw out (from danger), to rescue, to deliver, to equip for battle, to prepare, to arm (for war), to ready oneself, to withdraw
Root / Etymology
Root ח־ל־ץ (חלץ), with the base sense of drawing out or removing. Derived primary meaning is 'to draw off, pull out,' which develops semantically into 'to equip with' (especially equipment/armor), 'to remove' (as in stripping), and 'to rescue' (by drawing out of peril). The nominal form חָלָץ means 'loin,' from the idea of that which protrudes or is ready for action, reflecting preparedness or strength.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָלַץ occurs in several semantic environments: (1) removing or drawing out persons from danger (rescue/deliverance, e.g., Judges 6:14; Psalms 34:7); (2) stripping off or removing items, as in taking off armor (1 Kings 20:11); (3) equipping, arming, or readying for battle (Numbers 31:3, 1 Samuel 17:39), particularly by reference to 'men equipped for war.' In the late biblical and post-biblical periods, the sense of rescue and deliverance becomes more general. English translations often render חָלַץ as 'deliver,' 'rescue,' 'equip,' or 'arm,' but each usage should be read contextually. The use for 'making fat' or 'loosing' is rare and mostly idiomatic or poetic. The word contrasts with more common roots for 'deliver' (נצל, פלט), which can have broader or more legal connotations, whereas חָלַץ often carries a vivid, concrete sense of being pulled out or readied physically. The later English term 'armed' or phrases like 'armed men' reflect a specialized military usage that was present already in early Israelite society, especially concerning defense or action in peril.
Translation Consistency
Across occurrences the verb most often carries the sense of arming or readying (equip/armed) — preparing or outfitting for battle or action. "Equip" is natural English, covers the common meanings (arm, ready, prepare) while remaining usable where the idea is making ready or outfitting; rarer senses like "rescue/deliver" can be handled in context-specific renderings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen; arm (self), (go, ready) armed ([idiom] man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חלץ (ḥ-l-ṣ) — draw off, draw out, remove, equip, rescue
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2488 | חֲלִיצָה | his battle-armor |
| H2503 | חֶלֶץ | Helez |
| H2504 | חָלָץ | loins |
| H4254 | מַחֲלָצָה | the changeable garments |
Word Forms
29 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2502-08 |
חֲלוּצֵ֥י | chalutsey | HVqsmpc |
equipped | equipped ones of | equipped ones of | 5 |
H2502-07 |
חָל֛וּץ | chaluts | HVqsmsa |
armed | equipped one | equipped one | 4 |
H2502-09 |
חֲלוּצִ֖ים | chalutsim | HVqsmpa |
armed | equipped ones | equipped ones | 3 |
H2502-24 |
וְ/הֶ֣/חָל֔וּץ | vehechaluts | HC/Td/Vqsmsa |
and-the-armed | and the equipped one | and the equipped one | 3 |
H2502-13 |
הֶֽ/חָלוּץ֙ | hechaluts | HTd/Vqsmsa |
the-armed | the equipped one | the armed men | 3 |
H2502-29 |
יֵחָלְצ֣וּ/ן | yechaletsun | HVNi3mp/Sn |
they may be delivered | they will be drawn out | they may be delivered | 2 |
H2502-27 |
יְחַלְּצֵ֖/נִי | yechaletseni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
He delivered | he will draw me out | he drew me out | 2 |
H2502-23 |
וְ/חִלְּצוּ֙ | vechiletsu | HC/Vpq3cp |
and they shall remove | and they equipped | and they shall remove | 1 |
H2502-04 |
חַלְּצָ֣/ה | chaletsah | HVpv2ms/Sh |
deliver | Fully draw out! | Rescue | 1 |
H2502-22 |
וְ/חַלְּצֵ֑/נִי | vechaletseni | HC/Vpv2ms/Sp1cs |
and deliver me | and draw me out | and rescue me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
44 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2502-23 |
Leviticus 14:40 | וְ/חִלְּצוּ֙ | vechiletsu | HC/Vpq3cp |
and they shall remove | and they equipped | and they shall remove |
H2502-11 |
Leviticus 14:43 | חִלֵּ֣ץ | chilets | HVpp3ms |
he has taken away | he equipped | he has taken away |
H2502-12 |
Numbers 31:3 | הֵחָלְצ֧וּ | hechaletsu | HVNv2mp |
Arm yourselves | Be equipped | Equip yourselves |
H2502-08 |
Numbers 31:5 | חֲלוּצֵ֥י | chalutsey | HVqsmpc |
armed | equipped ones of | equipped ones of |
H2502-14 |
Numbers 32:17 | נֵחָלֵ֣ץ | nechalets | HVNi1cp |
will arm ourselves | we will be equipped | we will arm ourselves |
H2502-17 |
Numbers 32:20 | תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ | techaletsu | HVNi2mp |
you arm yourselves | you will be equipped | you will be equipped |
H2502-07 |
Numbers 32:21 | חָל֛וּץ | chaluts | HVqsmsa |
armed man | equipped one | equipped one |
H2502-07 |
Numbers 32:27 | חֲל֥וּץ | chaluts | HVqsmsc |
armed | equipped one | equipped one |
H2502-07 |
Numbers 32:29 | חָל֤וּץ | chaluts | HVqsmsa |
armed | equipped one | equipped one |
H2502-09 |
Numbers 32:30 | חֲלוּצִ֖ים | chalutsim | HVqsmpa |
armed | equipped ones | equipped ones |